[Magdalen] Aretha Franklin funeral...

[Sally Davies]

Stevie Wonder’s mouth organ solo was, well, a wonder. Really haunting and beautiful. 

Ariana Grande sang Natural Woman beautifully in every way but since then social media has exploded over the close up shots of that “Bishop” holding and groping her. What a disgrace...

I loved the honour guard of pink cadillacs!! 

Then yesterday, McCain...fascinating introit, not sure what it was? The Amazing Grace with bagpipe counterpoint almost fell apart but very interesting. Choir strong and the music met expectations though I missed the first half on CNN and had to catch up with an online broadcast whose sound quality was poor. 

Main interest there of course: the eulogies and reactions to them. Lots of unpacking to do I’m sure. 

McCain was a highly literate reader and I appreciated the quotations both simple (“home is the sailor”) and profound (Shakespeare and Hemingway). Since then much twitter discussion on Richard III, Macbeth and King Lear.

Sen Lieberman’s eulogy was perfection from a good friend, balanced and thoughtful and showing sides to McCain that many likely didn’t know. He finished with a depiction of Jerusalem that brought tears to my eyes. His daughter’s eulogy all fire and passion and many resonated with her, including me. 

Bush, aside from his lingering obsession with military glory, very sweet and comforting to the family. He was also caught on camera whispering to Michelle O and passing her a sneaky candy which was delightful. Their friendship is adorable and spoke volumes on its own! 

Obama on magisterial form completing Bush’s remarks with what seemed at timed more of an obituary for “American greatness”. Dignified but the point, which was clearly McCain’s wish, could not be missed. 

When Lieberman told a joke, said to be a McCain favourite, about inmates in a penitentiary I thought Paul Ryan was going to swallow his own teeth. 

Trump was in the rough most of the day in more ways than one, with Obama sitting in the seat where a normal President would normally be. 

All told we are funeralled out now but I’m interested to hear more about the music from those who heard better recordings than I did 

Sally D 

Sent from my iPhone

> On 01 Sep 2018, at 18:45, Joseph Cirou <romanos at mindspring.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> I watched most of Mc Canin's funeral  I started late so I missed Eternal Father Strong to Save.
> 
> I would liturgical high marks to the celebration. It helped they did the Vierne Finale to the First Symphony as the postlude.  Everything was good!
> 
> I watched most of Aretha's funeral until after 7PM  The parts were greater than the sum !
> 
> Joe
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Lynn Ronkainen <houstonklr at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Sep 1, 2018 12:26 PM
>> To: magdalen at herberthouse.org
>> Subject: Re: [Magdalen] Aretha Franklin funeral...
>> 
>> Watching funeral here - it is on all 3 of the major networks. 
>> Lynn
>> 
>> On Sep 1, 2018, at 11:03 AM, ME Michaud <michaudme at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> St. Francis (whose body lies in a gold casket) might agree with you
>> but I think Jesus might not.
>> 
>> I, of course, am watching the McCain funeral
>> and chuckling at seeing it pre-empted for a scheduled football game.
>> -M, hoping you all heard or will hear his daughter's eulogy
>> 
>> 
>> On Saturday, September 1, 2018, Sheila Ketler <debbiedimond52 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> I don't know if anyone caught any of that funeral as it was aired live... I
>>> started watching at 10 a.m. and finally at 4 o'clock decided I had had
>>> enough... It went on and on and on. Apparently she went out in style each
>>> of the days she laid in state she was dressed in a different outfit! and
>>> that casket..?? I was thinking how many homeless and hungry could have been
>>> fed with the money spent on a gold casket that let's face it gets put into
>>> the ground???
>>> 
>>>