Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Florence

  • Portraits of Florence

    Portraits of Florence

    In 2024 Pianist Robert Killen was inspired to release an album of solo piano works in tribute to Florence, Italy, a city that simply is living history, a city that in his first year of residence made a powerful impact.

    Italy has a certain ambience that pervades the streets, the very air, the architecture with a timeless sense of culture, tragedy and vitality which he has captured over the ten tracks which make up Portraits of Florence.

    A man who felt compelled to create beauty, Robert Killen has chosen the far reaching field of music to create songs that resonate beginning with the delightfully whimsical They Wake at Dawn a tribute to the Loggia dei Lanzi, aka Loggia della Signoria, constructed 1376-1382; a gathering place and residence that has seen the many marches of history pass through its portals.

    Crossings capture the very essence of life in Florence. The calm, stillness of early morning when the hustle of society has not yet occurred to disturb the beauty of the Ponte de Vecchio. The gentle increase in activity before the upbeat mood prevalent comes into play and the daylight passes into night.

    This is the gateway to heaven “haec est porta coeli” is the inscription carved into the entrance to the beautiful San Miniato al Monte, est. 1018, a place of great culture and reverence, still holding within its walls the chanting of the monks of old, the hope eternal and prayers of all who have worshiped there. This is a very reflective song which in its clarity and presentation captures the many moods still noticeable today.

    In a Last Dance, lovers gently waltz through the tears and sadness of goodbye to a city, a time of romance, a love fleeting but deeply felt in this light, dainty and delicate song, a fitting tribute to a city founded in 59 BC and still welcoming all who wish to discover the magic captured within the City that is Florence.

    Portraits of Florence is a delightfully light, enjoyable and wonderfully captivating album, each song accompanied by a YouTube clip that takes you into the moment, the magic the ambience, that truly is Italy.

  • The Brightest Star

    The Brightest Star

    The Brightest Star is a fantastic opportunity to learn about everyday life in Florence in the 1400’s. Emma Harcourt has presented us with an Historical Fiction which is detailed and widespread, showing customs, traditions and beliefs of the times. From the poultices that father had for his wine induced headaches, to the machinations of the famous Medici family, we are immersed in the times.

    The lead character, Leonarda Luna, is a remarkable young woman, and we follow her story from birth. She was born on the night of a full moon and has a crippled foot. Her father, on holding her in his arms, fell in love with the babe. Sadly, her mother died shortly after the birth.

    Luna, as she was called, grew up in the loving protection of her father and Friar Bartolomeo who was responsible in guiding Lunar in her studies; as she spent most of her days inside and loved reading, this was an easy task. Soon she became a formidable scholar and began questioning a women’s role in society and academics. Her father was a serious student and provided Luna with many books and opportunities for study.

    As Luna grew, society’s expectations, religious doctrine, ignorance and fear of people with a deformity, were to deny her a chance to follow the path in life that she longed for. The Medici family had just been exiled from Florence and a new preacher had arrived at the church. He was ferocious in his zeal to cleanse the population by using gangs of followers to wreck houses of alleged sinners and destroy all that was new.

    But this is Luna’s story, and it is for her that we read on, willing for some justice and common sense to prevail. Her intelligent and feisty personality would be challenged severely.

    The Brightest Star set in Florence in 1496 at the height of the Renaissance, is a captivating read from the first to last page as we walk with Luna through the dangerous years of change.