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Chapter Fifty-One of Keeping Score In America: The Lucky Leprechauns

By Michael Moriarty
web posted June 23, 2014

Not quite sure of what I want to talk about and that's usually because I have too many things on my mind.

Presently listening to my trio on my tune You Touched Me. Went to it after hearing the second movement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony.

Why?

Because I am composing my Second Symphony, I listen regularly to all my music on 77gelsomina. That would, of course, includes my favorite, American Pilgrimage.

Walt Whitman
One of America's Greatest Leaves of Grass

Here is Movement One of my American Pilgrimage's Chapter one.

Why? Such vigilance constantly and increasingly specifies what I am as a composer. Clarifies my "mission" so to speak.

Then, of course, I must keep myself "tuned up" with works such as Beethoven's 7th.

That divine creation is my favorite of all of Beethoven's nine symphonies!

Why? Hmmm…

Tough question.

Given the infinite legends within Beethoven's 3rd, the 5th and the 9th?!

Why such love for the 7th?

Its freshness. Its eternal importance to Michael Moriarty in particular. It always reinvents itself when I hear it.

Also, there's something so Irish about it.

The "Little People", the Leprechauns seem to haunt and literally possess it, the first movement particularly. This masterpiece seems to demand a "seriously playful" interpretation.

Leprechaun reading
The Literate Leprechaun

 

Haunting, as all of B's creations are, but mischievous as well… an intimidating herd of shamrock-laden wood sprites if you will.

The final climax?

A bit of the indomitably prideful, Irish insanity!!!

Mad Leprechaun
"So ya wanna go ta war?!"

But always with the presence and appearance of the great Irish actors, a quartet of Barry Fitzgerald's on the flutes and oboes.

A terminal mischief!!!

And that is just the first movement!!!!!!!

The second movement?

The Little People are committing themselves to a battle for their lives with the British!!!!

Leprechaun platoon
The Leprechaun Platoon

It is all in preparation for possible death… and yet they are so little!

Yet so frightening!

Why?

Insanely, yea, suicidally courageous!!!

One thing's for sure:
They want their independence!!!!!!

I hear Irish tenors singing all over these melodies in this masterpiece.

And forever the Irish mischief!

Leading up to a bellicose commitment!

Even to war if necessary!!

Irish authors spent the entire 20th century teaching the British how to write best  in their own English language!!

Oscar Wilde
An Oscar Wilde Leprechaun

 

William Butler Yeats, Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wilde and George Bernard Shaw?!?!

A divinely possessed trinity of genius.

The Third Movement of Beethoven's 7th?

The Leprechauns make war with a smile on their face!!!

Smiling Leprechaun
"So ya wanna teach me how ta speak English, do ya?!"

The Finale?!

The Celebratory Victory Dance!

An Irish fling!!!

That's a horse race!!!!

Horse
The Guiness Day Irish Fling

And, indeed, the entire last movement is a horse race!

A wild explosion of energy that is forever coming round the far turn and into the home stretch.

To the Irish Day of INDEPENDENCE!!!!

Leprechaun prize
The Leprechaun's Victory Dance!!!!

Would Ireland have even crossed Beethoven's mind during the composition of his glorious 7th Symphony?

I doubt it.

But if that masterpiece owns me, as it does, it owns some corner of my Irish soul.

As usual, the Irish corner of anything cannot hold its tongue.

Nor the keys of its computer. ESR

Michael Moriarty is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor who starred in the landmark television series Law and Order from 1990 to 1994. His recent film and TV credits include The Yellow Wallpaper, 12 Hours to Live, Santa Baby and Deadly Skies. Contact Michael at rainbowfamily2008@yahoo.com. He can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/@MGMoriarty.

 

 

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