He Was Despised

Today is Good Friday.  What has been running through my mind all day is the haunting aria “He Was Despised”  from Händel’s Messiah.  The words are taken from Isaiah 53:3:  “He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”  It is one of my favorite moments, though there are many, from Händel’s oratorio.

I found this video of an unusual performance in Vienna.  The aria is sung by countertenor Bejun Mehta.  I know nothing about this production but feel it conveys in a non-traditional way the passion and suffering of the rejected Christ.

Daniel Johnston

Last night I had the privilege of seeing the legendary Daniel Johnston perform live as part of Kansas City’s first Middle of the Map Fest.  Daniel first gained notoriety in the 1980’s when he began giving out homemade cassette recordings of his music to people on the streets of Austin, Texas.  He became a local celebrity of sorts.  This led to national exposure when he was featured on a show on MTV.  Daniel gained more attention through his numerous fans in the music world, most notably Kurt Cobain who claimed Johnston as one of his favorite singer/songwriters.

Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Johnston has struggled with mental illness through much of his adult life. The story of his life and music was featured in the award-winning documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston.  Aside from his music, Daniel is also a gifted artist whose unique drawings have become collector’s items. 

Here is a great video from Austin City Limits of Daniel performing one of my favorite Daniel Johnston songs, “Life in Vain,” accompanied by The Swell Season and a children’s choir. 

Last night Daniel was backed up by the Kansas City-based band Capybara.  I’ve become a big fan of Capybara recently and also had the chance to see them perform at the Fest.  Here is a clip of their song “The Wimp.”