Proclaimed an American national holiday two years ago, the Church of Satan celebrates independence, sovereignty, and emancipation from imposed servitude on this Juneteenth, 2023. Our unique banner design for this holiday, a variation rendered by myself, includes 19 vertices between the two stars, to mark the date, while the central star is inverted to symbolize our carnal philosophy, which has always championed liberty and individualism. Skilled and prolific composer William Grant Still was born on May 11th, 1895, almost 30 years following the event celebrated today, June 19, 1865. On that date, Major General Gordon Granger, a Civil War Union […]
symphony
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Many Satanists mark today’s seasonal pivot point, feeling simpatico with our splendiferous homeworld’s continuing seasonal cycles. In the Northern Hemisphere, Spring arrives, succeeding Winter’s torpor with a renewed, verdant surging. In the Southern Hemisphere, Autumn soothes after the scorching Summer months. Here in the haunted Hudson Valley, Winter has seemingly, at last, let go. The bulbs have awakened, pushing their way into the stimulating sunlight, delighting us with their vigor. Always such a joy when our garden revivifies! John Knowles Paine (1839-1906) was one of the first American composers to be recognized for his large-scale orchestral compositions. Born in Maine, […]
In Memoriam Christopher Rouse (1949-2019) I consider Dr. Christopher Rouse to be one of the great symphonists of our time, and I’ve been following his exquisitely dark and expressive compositions since I discovered his earlier orchestral works GORGON and The Infernal Machine. I recall him commenting in program notes that so much contemporary music had lost the ability to work in a true “allegro” tempo, so he deftly remedied that in several of his pieces. He’s also a master of “adagio” tempi—and everything in between. It was always exciting for me when his new works were performed and released—I knew […]