As steals the morn upon the night

Rational thinking doesn’t get much good press in this post-truth era (‘post-truth’ was the Oxford Dictionary word of the year for 2016). Politicians, media commentators, pop songs - all go for the gut response; few have a kind word for reason or the intellect. But amongst all the fear and grief Covid-19 has given rise to, there are signs (at least in some countries) of a revival of respect for truth, reason, logical thinking and the scientific method - a sudden realisation that rationality may have practical, even life and death, value.
Here is a song in praise of those two currently unfashionable and oft-neglected things, reason and truth. If you expect this to be dry and intellectual, you will be surprised - on the contrary, it’s quietly rapturous, and one of the most beautiful songs its composer ever wrote. (There is a story behind this; I will share it later.)
The lyrics were adapted from lines from Shakespeare's The Tempest (V.i.65-68): ‘And as the morning steals upon the night, / Melting the darkness, so their rising senses / Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle / Their clearer reason.’
The photos of sunrise were all taken on the same morning in the same place, over the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia, and are in chronological (i.e. rational!) order.
The music is from Handel's L'Allegro, Il Penseroso ed Il Moderato, its first two sections based on poems by Milton about happiness and melancholy (which is not as simple as you might think - worth reading what Milton had to say about it) and the 3rd section on a text by a contemporary of Handel, all about moderation. This beautiful duet is the highlight of that 3rd section. Performers: the superb soprano Patrizia Kwella, tenor Maldwyn Davies, English Baroque Soloists conducted by John Eliot Gardiner, who got the tempo just right.

[@marcellongchamps1218]

J'ai rarement vibrer aussi intensément en écoutant de la musique et en regardant les beautés de la création. C'est une véritable caresse pour l'âme, pour les yeux et pour les oreilles. Que Dieu soit loué!

[@evanofelipe]

Thank you Neil for compiling such a wonderful series of beautiful morning skies, each marking the promise of the day to come. Every dawn precedes the birth of another child, somewhere on this fragile Earth, bringing special moments of happiness to those around it. Moments of achievement made real by effort and will are manifested many times across the Continents as first glimmers of dawn slowly creep from the depths of night. Handel’s music perfectly captures the promise contained in every dawn.

[@joseantonioverduzcoornelas9370]

Excelente interpretación

[@viviennewilliams7510]

Having been rather unwell recently, this piece of music has sustained me each and every day. The words ,so meaningful when the nights bring all the dark thoughts and the ‘ intellectual day’ allows one to reflect and be more rational. Thank heaven for my iPad and Jaybird earbuds those nights spent in hospital! Thank you for uploading this .

[@neilbucklandmusic]

Thank you. I'm very glad it's been so helpful.

[@ottavva]

I can never get enough of this tune

[@neilbucklandmusic]

It inspires me too.

[@valtergilenardi2639]

Thank you Sir; for this Wonderful video 🤗❤ 🌅 W George Friedrich Handel 👑🎼🎶🎶🎻🎺🎺🎶

[@musicfanBRA]

Thank you Neil, for the post and for your wise and welcome words in praise of Truth and Reason in this deplorable age of fake news. The lyrics are coupled with a sublime piece of music. What a delight! Thank you, again.

[@elenarivillo4559]

❤ que voces y qué melodía maravillosa!❤

[@albinojuanbazzanella6142]

We need to restore the truth of the faith and the reason 🙏

[@jacintaaconng1]

Just beautiful and almost perfect. Voice and performance. Nice display of the lyric also.

[@musicfanBRA]

Soprano Patrizia Kwella, tenor Maldwyn Davies and English Baroque Soloists conducted by John Eliot Gardiner.

[@fastidioussloth6013]

Soprano Patrizia Kwella, perhaps my favourite Handel singer, with tenor Maldwyn Davies and English Baroque Soloists conducted by John Eliot Gardiner.

[@metingencadam6326]

Çok teşekkürler Neil, paylaştığın için bu dupduru icrayı..

[@elenarivillo4559]

Maravilloso, gracias!

[@omarzagmuttcahbar4896]

Obra maestra absoluta

[@user-nv5xh7pv3y]

Wunder voll ❤ Daaaanke

[@Alisonwest]

Please post performance information. This is a vital tribute to the artists. Another commentator has done this. This is my comment to you, Mr. Buckland. Soprano Patrizia Kwella, tenor Maldwyn Davies and English Baroque Soloists conducted by John Eliot Gardiner.

[@neilbucklandmusic]

I agree with you and I normally would do this but somehow left it out when I posted this video. I've now rectified this.

[@Alisonwest]

@@neilbucklandmusic Perfect.

[@vitroz]

Who are the soloists?!?!?!

[@neilbucklandmusic]

See the comment above by Fastidious Sloth. Patrizia Kwella is superb in this.

[@manfredwilhelmy7634]

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