DC Girl on the Go

This Saturday the National Philharmonic will be premiering Debussy’s Martyrdom of St. Sebastian as part of a festival in the Washington, DC area celebrating the composer’s 150th birthday. The Martyrdom is Debussy’s only large-scale choral work. It tells the story of St. Sebastian, a Roman soldier whose conversion to Christianity inspired him to save other Christians from death, and ultimately led the Emperor Diocletian to order his execution. 

Influenced by Symbolist poets and Impressionist painters, Debussy’s compositions took on a new form of originality through nontraditional tonal structures. His technique achieved a new voice that evoked profound images and moods in the lush texture of the music. In the Martyrdom of St. Sebastian, for example, listeners are made acutely aware of the anguish sung by the chorus: 

Hélas! Ah! Pleurez, Ô femmes de Syrie, criez: Hélas! Ma Seigneurie! Toutes le fleurs se sont flétries. Criez! Pleurez!

“Alas! Ah! Weep ye, oh women of Syria, cry out: Alas! Beloved homeland! All the flowers are withered. Cry out! Weep ye!”

It is a work of profound beauty and mystery- give this orchestral excerpt a listen. See you there!

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Pre-concert lecture: 6:45 pm in the music hall

Concert: 8 pm, Music Center at Strathmore

Grosvenor- Strathmore Metro stop on the Red line.

Tickets: www.nationalphilharmonic.org.

The Turks are known worldwide for their carpets and their skills have been handed down for generations. Rugs were originally made for warmth and decoration (or in the case of the nomadic tribes, sturdiness), dowry gifts, and donations to mosques. They come in an assortment of colors and patterns specific geographical regions in Anatolia.

What sets the Turks apart from their neighbors in Iran is the Turkish knot. Most  rugs use the symmetrical ghiordes double knot or “Turkish knot.”  With this form of knotting, each end of the pile thread is wrapped all the way around the two warps (strings on the loom), pulled down and cut, creating a stronger rug than the much more typical asymmetrical single knot, senneh, or “Persian knot.” There are three types of carpets that are made in Turkey and they are tiered from good to best. 

• Wool on Wool- The most traditional/tribal/nomadic rug. Because the wool on the wool base can’t be woven as finely, the knots are more susceptible to stretching over time. Look for: Geometric patterns, natural/less vibrant colors.
• Wool on Cotton- The materials allow weavers to make more intricate designs and the density of the knots is much greater thus making a stronger carpet. This is the kind I bought in Capadoccia and I absolutely love it! Look for: Intricate floral patterns, bright colors.
• Silk on Silk- Silk is the strongest natural material in the world. It is fine and can be woven in a very intricate design with a high knot count. Look for: Intricate designs, bright colors.