User talk:Gerda Arendt

2024 talk · 2024 introduction: Anniversary of Bach's chorale cantatas · music · recent deaths · good articles · did you know? my 2024 cards · other 2024 cards

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my story today:

2024
I made two cards for the transition from 2023 to 2024: 

Bach composed Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht, BWV 134a, as a congratulatory cantata for the court of Köthen, first performed on New Year's Day 1719.

14 July 2010

Lobpreiset all zu dieser Zeit 

A German theologian wrote "Vertraut den neuen Wegen" (Trust the new ways) to the melody of Lob Gott getrost mit Singen (Praise God confidently with singing) to be sung at a wedding in Eisenach shortly before the fall of the Wall.

7 April 2021 A little child, a little lamb, on a backdrop of war and death: hoping for more peace in 2024! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:38, 31 December 2023 (UTC)

These were my "stories" on 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2023. If you want to follow a daily sentence throughout the year, use User Gerda Arendt/Top, and for the calendar pictures and the music of the year, see User:Gerda Arendt/Images 2024. Let's stay inspired and connected. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:18, 1 January 2024 (UTC)

2024 · the anniversary of Bach's chorale cantatas
2024 is the anniversary of the Achtliederbuch, the first Lutheran hymnal of 500 years ago, and - possibly related - Bach's cycle of Chorale cantatas 300 years ago. His works and the chorales on which they are based will be a focus for 2024. Ongoing are locations that played a role in my life, recent deaths, music heard and sung, composers, gardens. Watch my user page for articles, done in collaboration. Compare 2023 for the amazing number of users who began and expanded articles. Thanks also to reviewers, and I do plan to review more and write less, and in writing, focus more on quality than the little daily article.

2024 talk begins at, 2024 calender pics and musical events begin here, and the 2024 diary of my own pictures of places, songs, food, flowers ... will come here, - just watch those lists if you are interested.

My talk goes like this: on top there's the "story" related to the day. Below are three boxes, often one for people remembered and two for musical experiences, performing or listening. In these boxes, topics related to the top story and topics featured on the Main page appear bold. Right here you see the image of the month with songs of the month, typically related to meetings with friends who gave them to me. I archive from time. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:35, 1 January 2024 (UTC) - updated order --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:57, 10 April 2024 (UTC)

Belated seasons greetings; great contribution
Belated Christmas greetings and happy new year. I have not sent my usual greetings this season. Coordinator work, preparing a talk for January 2 and real life have me quite busy. I just took better notice of User:Gerda Arendt/Stories. As always, this is another great contribution to the project by you. Donner60 (talk) 22:29, 30 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Thank you, Donner60, and all the best for 2024! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:42, 31 December 2023 (UTC)

Happy New Year!
Dear Gerda, I apologize for not replying to your thoughtful messages. December is usually a busy month for me; this one has been even more so, much of it because of my own doing! But I wanted to let you know that I did read them and that it means very much to me that you took the trouble to think of me, despite my occasional irascibility. (Within me the patrimony of my hot-blooded Italian forebears are ever in conflict with the expressive austerity of my Basque ancestors!) Thank you for everything that you do on here. My sincerest wishes to you for good health and much joy in 2024! :) —CurryTime7-24 (talk) 21:43, 31 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Thank you for your personal expression, and have a good curry time in 2024 - brief, off to the village fireworks to come. I just finished my pics of 2023, and it was a good harvest, in the end of many Christmas trees, angels, high water and a flaming sky. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:38, 31 December 2023 (UTC)

Have a wonderful New Year, Gerda!
Netherzone, thank you for a lovely start in the new year, - see my "response" (written before I went to bed).

Happy New Year!

 * Thank you for the personal greeting, and it's all my pleasure, MyCatIsAChonk. Igor and I. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:02, 1 January 2024 (UTC)

Have a good year in 2024
Make the music and keep up the good work! Cheers, &middot; &middot; &middot; Peter Southwood (talk): 15:04, 3 January 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you, Peter, for coming over! Same to you! - I try. What do you think of my question here? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:16, 3 January 2024 (UTC)

Happy New Year and Thank You!
Hi Gerda, Just to wish you a Happy New Year and to say that I'm retiring from Wikipedia after a good innings. Thank you for your encouragement and cheerfulness! I will still be contactable via my talk page and have said I'm happy to answer questions there too. Bless you Bermicourt (talk) 18:50, 5 January 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you, sad to see you go, but do what's best for you! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:50, 5 January 2024 (UTC)
 * I'm considering contributing to German Wikipedia instead, but conscious I'm not a native speaker so will need to up my game! Maybe I'll see you there! :) Bermicourt (talk) 17:15, 10 January 2024 (UTC)
 * Fine, - ping me when you create something to be reviewed. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:36, 10 January 2024 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!

 * Thank you, Rosie, that's very original and touching! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:42, 3 January 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Catalogue of Works of Carl Friedrich Abel
Z1720 (talk) 00:03, 5 January 2024 (UTC)


 * Wonderful to see this on the main page after the wait! MyCatIsAChonk (talk) (not me) (also not me) (still no) 17:15, 5 January 2024 (UTC)
 * About time. Article begun in May, meant to appear with the Abel Fest in June. Then we missed his birthday on 22 December. I wanted it with the image, for various reasons,



The new Catalogue of Works of Carl Friedrich Abel, listing 420 compositions, was introduced at a festival celebrating Abel's tercentenary in Köthen.

5 January 2024 but this is better than nothing. - What do you think of the nom for Anna Nekhames? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:31, 5 January 2024 (UTC)


 * 1) Catalogue of Works of Carl Friedrich Abel 5 Jan
 * 2) Ryland Davies 9 Jan
 * 3) Kihwan Sim 12 Jan
 * 4) Wie liegt die Stadt so wüst 15 Jan
 * 5) Thomas Fritzsch 16 Jan
 * 6) St. Joseph, Wedding 20 Jan
 * 7) Vivi Vassileva 21 Jan
 * 8) St. Martin, Oestrich 25 Jan
 * 9) Shalom chaverim 25 Jan
 * 10) Anna Nekhames 26 Jan
 * 11) Stephen Gould (tenor) 7 Feb
 * 12) Tamara Milashkina 20 Feb
 * 13) Caspar Richter 3 Mar
 * 14) Cecelia Hall 23 Mar
 * 15) Kelsey Lauritano 26 Mar
 * 16) Florian Ludwig 26 Mar
 * 17) Karsten Januschke 29 Mar
 * 18) Tilmann Köhler 5 Apr
 * 19) Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine 30 Apr
 * 20) Magdalena Hinterdobler 10 May
 * 21) Liviu Holender 22 May
 * 22) St. Trinitatis, Wolfenbüttel 26 May
 * 23) Samuel Kummer 30 May
 * 24) Peter Demetz 5 Jun
 * 25) Daniela Kerck 25 Jun
 * 26) Zwei Gesänge, Op. 1 (Schoenberg) 1 Jul

ITN recognition for Hermann Baumann (musician)
Thank you, PFHLai, for the first of the year. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:31, 5 January 2024 (UTC)

For more detail see WikiProject Quality Article Improvement/Recent deaths --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:30, 18 January 2024 (UTC)
 * 1) Hermann Baumann (musician) - PFHLai (talk) 01:00, 5 January 2024 (UTC)
 * 2) Chris Karrer - Stephen 22:18, 9 January 2024 (UTC)
 * 3) Tamara Milashkina - PFHLai (talk) 23:36, 17 January 2024 (UTC)
 * 4) Romuald Twardowski - Stephen 01:41, 20 January 2024 (UTC)
 * 5) Ewa Podleś - Stephen 00:05, 24 January 2024 (UTC)
 * 6) Gerd Uecker - Stephen 10:28, 26 January 2024 (UTC)
 * 7) Oskar Negt - Stephen 22:41, 7 February 2024 (UTC)
 * 8) Helga Paris - Stephen 22:41, 12 February 2024 (UTC)
 * 9) Seiji Ozawa -  Spencer T• C 05:47, 12 February 2024 (UTC)
 * 10) Alfred Grosser - Ingenuity (talk • contribs) 00:43, 11 February 2024 (UTC)
 * 11) Ladislav Burlas - Stephen 00:00, 19 February 2024 (UTC)
 * 12) Rudolf Jansen - PFHLai (talk) 19:06, 19 February 2024 (UTC)
 * 13) Johanna von Koczian - PFHLai (talk) 20:04, 17 February 2024 (UTC)
 * 14) Ira von Fürstenberg - Stephen 23:31, 24 February 2024 (UTC)
 * 15) Gabriela Grillo - Stephen 08:00, 2 March 2024 (UTC)
 * 16) Françoise Garner - PFHLai (talk) 12:33, 13 March 2024 (UTC)
 * 17) Guy Touvron - PFHLai (talk) 23:59, 15 March 2024 (UTC)
 * 18) Aribert Reimann - Stephen 21:20, 19 March 2024 (UTC)
 * 19) Maurizio Pollini - – robertsky (talk) 02:28, 28 March 2024 (UTC)
 * 20) Peter Eötvös - Tone 10:42, 30 March 2024 (UTC)
 * 21) Günther Leib - PFHLai (talk) 21:26, 28 March 2024 (UTC)
 * 22) Judith Hemmendinger - Stephen 23:47, 31 March 2024 (UTC)
 * 23) Hans Joachim Meyer - Stephen 01:56, 5 April 2024 (UTC)
 * 24) Notker Wolf - PFHLai (talk) 17:28, 8 April 2024 (UTC)
 * 25) Gerhard Lohfink - Stephen 23:14, 9 April 2024 (UTC)
 * 26) Kalevi Kiviniemi - Stephen 23:31, 9 April 2024 (UTC)
 * 27) Michael Boder - PFHLai (talk) 16:02, 13 April 2024 (UTC)
 * 28) Dieter Rexroth - PFHLai (talk) 23:30, 15 April 2024 (UTC)
 * 29) Joe Viera - Amakuru (talk) 11:20, 15 April 2024 (UTC) (14 Apr)
 * 30) Lorenzo Palomo - Stephen 01:24, 18 April 2024 (UTC)
 * 31) Andrew Davis -  Spencer T• C 19:28, 22 April 2024 (UTC)
 * 32) Samuel Kummer - – robertsky (talk) 07:22, 28 April 2024 (UTC)
 * 33) Peter Demetz -  Spencer T• C 21:32, 6 May 2024 (UTC)
 * 34) Gerhard Müller - PFHLai (talk) 09:55, 15 May 2024 (UTC)
 * 35) Willi Brokmeier - Ad Orientem (talk) 19:17, 25 May 2024 (UTC)
 * 36) Rolf-Ernst Breuer -  Schwede  66  07:08, 29 May 2024 (UTC)
 * 37) Hugues Gall - PFHLai (talk) 12:14, 2 June 2024 (UTC)
 * 38) Alexander Lang -  Schwede  66  20:16, 5 June 2024 (UTC)
 * 39) Jürgen Moltmann -  Schwede  66  10:03, 10 June 2024 (UTC)
 * 40) Éric Tappy - Stephen 23:47, 18 June 2024 (UTC)
 * 41) Gerhard Klingenberg - Stephen 01:27, 23 June 2024 (UTC)
 * 42) Jodie Devos - PFHLai (talk) 21:02, 23 June 2024 (UTC)
 * 43) Margarita Voites -  Spencer T• C 23:57, 28 June 2024 (UTC)
 * 44) Lothar Gall -  Spencer T• C 23:57, 28 June 2024 (UTC)
 * 45) Lando Bartolini - Stephen 22:45, 3 July 2024 (UTC)
 * 46) Martti Wallén - PFHLai (talk) 13:22, 6 July 2024 (UTC)
 * 47) Liana Isakadze -  Spencer T• C 02:54, 11 July 2024 (UTC)
 * 48) Marina Kondratyeva - PFHLai (talk) 11:25, 15 July 2024 (UTC)
 * 49) Ruth Hesse - Stephen 01:58, 18 July 2024 (UTC)
 * 50) Thomas Hoepker - DanCherek (talk) 22:32, 18 July 2024 (UTC)

Your GA nomination of Macht hoch die Tür
The article Macht hoch die Tür you nominated as a good article has passed ; see Talk:Macht hoch die Tür for comments about the article, and Talk:Macht hoch die Tür/GA1 for the nomination. Well done! If the article has never appeared on the Main Page as a "Did you know" item, and has not appeared within the last year either as "Today's featured article", or as a bold link under "In the news" or in the "On this day" prose section, you can nominate it within the next seven days to appear at DYK. Bolded names with dates listed at the bottom of the "On this day" column do not affect DYK eligibility. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of Schminnte -- Schminnte (talk) 22:24, 8 January 2024 (UTC)
 * 1) Macht hoch die Tür - Schminnte (talk) 22:24, 8 January 2024 (UTC)
 * 2) Stephen Gould (tenor) - MyCatIsAChonk (talk) 00:03, 18 January 2024 (UTC)
 * 3) Ryland Davies - Utopes (talk) 19:41, 27 February 2024 (UTC)
 * 4) Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104  - MyCatIsAChonk (talk) 11:43, 13 April 2024 (UTC)
 * 5) Magdalena Hinterdobler - MyCatIsAChonk (talk) 21:04, 4 June 2024 (UTC)
 * 6) Cecelia Hall (mezzo-soprano) - 750h+ (talk) 12:03, 14 June 2024 (UTC)
 * 7) Tamara Milashkina - Viriditas (talk) 22:40, 3 July 2024 (UTC)

Notice
There is currently a discussion at Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents regarding an issue with which you may have been involved. Thank you.  Naruto love hinata 5 (talk · contributions) 23:45, 10 January 2024 (UTC)
 * Gerda, perhaps if you started out every hook with "Did you know ... that Narutolovehinata5 is very important ... and also [insert hook here]. --Floquenbeam (talk) 00:10, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!

 * Seconding @Netherzone here. I didn't see the post in time to oppose vehemently. But I love what you bring to all areas, especially talk pages since that's where I frequently see you @Gerda Arendt. Thanks for always sharing your passions with us. Star   Mississippi  17:59, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

I offer you my deepest apologies Gerda
Hello Gerda. I would just want you to know that I am very sorry for the ANI discussion I started earlier. I had been having some real-life stress lately and it felt like it may have affected my feelings on-wiki. I'm very sorry for the attitude I have shown you over the past few weeks. I very much appreciate your efforts on Wikipedia and your dedication to the project even if we disagree on many things, and I just want to let you know that despite everything that has happened you are still an editor I admire and respect. You are a net positive to DYK and while we may disagree on views, what we can agree on is that your articles are very informative and a net good to the project. Again, I am sorry for what I have done. Rest assured that regardless of our differences I support your efforts on Wikipedia to improve our coverage on classical music and Germany.  Naruto love hinata 5 (talk · contributions) 02:46, 11 January 2024 (UTC)
 * I woke up thinking Joy to the world. I tried to bring joy, it's turned into trivia, and I'm accused of bad faith. Travelling now, no time to even look. Before looking, I can't tell if I can accept apologies, which may may be tomorrow. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:52, 11 January 2024 (UTC)
 * Narutolovehinata5, still today, I'm on a train, the train has a connection (all things that can't be taken for granted): apologies for attitude accepted, but I hope that it really will change, because I felt it becoming a danger to diversity of information and freedom of speech. For those unfamiliar with the situation: we escalated over the hook for Kihwan Sim, which was replaced in prep against my protest. That hook should not run, it's a triviality said about a living person who deserves merit for specific achievements. - I looked at the thread and found some gems of support there that I will place in my "blushing" cabinet, - thank you, all! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:19, 11 January 2024 (UTC)
 * This is not an indictment of Naruto but like others on the AN/I thread I have found that Wikipedia seems to have become more hostile. I suppose one could surmise at least somewhat that it is born out of necessity. We appear to live at a time where I feel my thoughts on life and the way I wish to live life are going the way of faeries and dragons. Nobody cares, love is fleeting, and civility and affording basic human respect are more centered on your position in relation to mine rather than the fact you are a fellow human being. The cruelty is not AN/I or Naruto's position. The cruelty is everything that has led up to it. People are becoming less nice and we are told it is normal, discussions less civil but we are told to accept it. Where is the empathy?
 * Gerda, you are a blessing and so precious, my friend. I said it after we first met and I maintain that yours is one the brightest lights I have been so fortunate to meet here. Keep singing, keep shining, keep being you. -- A Rose Wolf  13:52, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

The Medal for Joy

 * THIS! Gerda you are a beloved contributor, who first encouraged me to submit a DYK and taught me how the process worked by your kind words, "watch what I do". I've learned so much from you over the years about patience, diplomacy, and of course I appreciate how you generously spread joy, music, food, and nature within this community, and the global community. And personally, you have educated this old-skool rock-n-roller about opera and classical music general. You rock, girl! Thank you, precious! Netherzone (talk) 03:19, 12 January 2024 (UTC)

Upper Bounds
Hi, Gerda, I hope you will forgive me for overstepping my bounds. They are both positive to infinity & beyond. I look forward to seeing your postings online in the future. You do some amazing things around here :) cheers to the 11th & to 2024! Ktochle (talk) 20:49, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Kihwan Sim
Aoidh (talk) 00:02, 12 January 2024 (UTC)

Kihwan Sim
Thank you for support, barnstars and recognition. I had a great day with friends and family, and am too tired for individual comments. What brought us here was my DYK nomination for a singer who fascinated me, Template:Did you know nominations/Kihwan Sim, followed by questioning the sourcing for part of the hook together with the suggestion of a completely different hook, WT:DYK. I was away, and didn't see that this new hook, although I objected and explained that I was away, was put in prep. I still object, a) because it says something trivial about him instead of celebrating his achievements, b) because I hate to be held responsible for putting "military" on the Main page. It reached the Main page now. Help?? - I will have no time for Wikipedia today, as yesterday. - For those who believe that our readers are not interested in opera: in the last case of an opera singer, Ryland Davies, more people viewed the opera than the singer. Let's not underestimate our readers, and not censor what we offer them. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 00:11, 12 January 2024 (UTC)

Still little time: I told the story today that I wanted to tell, and the Main page still has the story I think tells too little. Thank you for all support, but the most wanted support would be to change that. The approved version is in the nomination, also a modified hook that was taken to prep. Everybody: don't miss to look and listen, Sim and Guggeis in interview, and the French revolution hints ;) - "Se vuol ballare" --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:47, 12 January 2024 (UTC)


 * I totally get your POV and I sympathize, but I think the hook on the main page is quite good. I understand that you think differently.  Sometimes when we get really close to a subject, we get a bit of tunnel vision and that's normal.  I personally like the idea that we can meet somewhere in the middle. Viriditas (talk) 21:36, 12 January 2024 (UTC)
 * Please don't get me wrong: I don't think it was an impossible hook, but it wasn't what I wanted to tell, - I wanted to talk about the first production of our fascinating new GMD, and the title role would have been the best related topic. What I disliked was that it was thrown in prep without consulting me. Also: the world "military" in the hook is really something I don't get behind. - I wanted to mention the French Revolution, and you may have seen the hints, not only in expressive gestures, but also the French flag colours by constellation of the performers for a moment ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:51, 12 January 2024 (UTC)
 * Yeah, that makes sense. I just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed the hook even if you didn't, and that your "worst" hooks are better than my best ones! Viriditas (talk) 22:32, 12 January 2024 (UTC)

The Main Page Barnstar

 * Thank you, and don't be upset please about something that seems to clarify things. Thank you for the barnstar and the recognition - much appreciated! - I brought more than 90 names to the News section of the Main page, many more than DYK, and experience much more collegial reviewing in that field. - You can comment in the matter, and more productively than in WP:Great Dismal Swamp: check out my user page and look for articles nominated for DYK, and review or comment there. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:50, 14 January 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Wie liegt die Stadt so wüst
Isabelle Belato 🏳‍🌈 00:02, 15 January 2024 (UTC) A piece we sang in 1999, to end a century of violence. My story today. I like recordings, 1951 with the original performers and 2020 Windsbacher Knabenchor, with explanations (in German). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:04, 15 January 2024 (UTC)

DYK for St. Joseph, Wedding
Isabelle Belato 🏳‍🌈 00:02, 20 January 2024 (UTC)

Cute: today is the birthday of a friend whose wedding was on a 17 September, the day I was at St. Joseph, Wedding, in 2023 and took the two photos in the article - see also more details. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:29, 20 January 2024 (UTC)

DYK for St. Martin, Oestrich
—Ganesha811 (talk) 00:02, 25 January 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Shalom chaverim
—Ganesha811 (talk) 00:03, 25 January 2024 (UTC)


 * Noto_Emoji_Oreo_1f917.svgNoto_Emoji_Pie_1f33b.svg ~ ToBeFree (talk) 20:52, 25 January 2024 (UTC)

27 January
Birthday of Mozart and our conductor: --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:20, 28 January 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Stephen Gould (tenor)
—Ganesha811 (talk) 02:08, 7 February 2024 (UTC)


 * Finally, good to see him at DYK! MyCatIsAChonk (talk) (not me) (also not me) (still no) 11:53, 7 February 2024 (UTC)
 * yes, thank you for noticing --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:58, 7 February 2024 (UTC)

BWV 22
Every time I visit your pages I end up having to learn about a lovely new cantata! Thank you so much for all your work. It's BWV 22 right now – what a gorgeous thing, despite the tragic lack of trumpets.

I have a personally busy time coming up with Bach and some other guy called Handel and some other other guy called Telemann. Should be fun.

Cheers!! DBaK (talk) 19:56, 11 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Cheers back, listening right now to an opera by the Handel guy (Poro) which Telemann presented as Cleofida in Hamburg in 1732 adding marches he must have enjoyed writing. German recitatives. Never heard. Delightful. - You don't have to come to my page as long you have "story" in a box by me ;) - Our Bach endeavour will be three cantatas!!! 5 May, - come over, plenty of trumpets in BWV 11 ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:23, 11 February 2024 (UTC)

12 years
Dear Gerda, thanks for your greeting, which I warmly reciprocate. I have stepped back from wp for the past few months, partly because of pressures at home (caring for supercentenarian mother). But you rightly diagnose the local cause of inactivity and I will strive to take your precious advice to heart. Thanks for noticing, and very best wishes for 2024. So sorry about Seiji Ozawa. Eebahgum (talk) 14:04, 12 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you! - I thank Ozawa personally two (mostly) unforgettable matinees in Tanglewood (where children under 5 were not welcome for the concerts, but the dress rehearsals), of Haydn's Die Schöpfung, choir all in white and singing from memory, "Und eine neue Welt" (And a new world) of unearthly lightness, and a Mozart piano concerto with Mitsuko Uchida (forgot which, forgot rest of the program) when all the birds under the roof of the Shed began chirping when the piano entered, and remember how she smiled. - I thank Christoph Eschenbach for a great Verdi Requiem at the same place, and could do so in person after a concert of Bruckner's Sixths, saying that I liked it very much (and it had been 12 years earlier), and he smiled and said "Ich auch". --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:19, 12 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Uchida held us breathless at Snape Maltings a few years ago with a solo concert of the three final Beethoven sonatas. It seems somehow improper to comment on such a comprehensively personal and dynamically brilliant exposition, but we certainly felt the warmth of the pedalling building the whole conception. It was terrific Beethoven! Your mention of the chirping birds reminds me of an open air evening concert in the Forum in Rome back in 1977 - it was Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, and every time the horns came in, all the wild cats that live in the Forum responded by yowling together in a loud chorus after a moment's delay. Whether they liked it or not I don't know, but it touched something in their souls, for the effect came back a couple of times as if it had been written into Sonata Form. Happy cats! Eebahgum (talk) 01:27, 13 February 2024 (UTC)

Thank you!
Just making sure someone remembers to thank *you* for all your work on editor retention, all your new articles and DYKs, and your general good cheer and Excellent work. We love having you here. Stay cool. jengod (talk) 16:14, 12 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you, jengod, feels good! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 17:35, 12 February 2024 (UTC)

Precious anniversary
Dear Gerda, it's such a pleasure to hear from you -- a most welcome antidote to the ambitions, rivalries, and animosities ubiquitous at Wikipedia as elsewhere in this human-inhabited world. Nihil novi (talk) 07:13, 17 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Such a nice thing to read when waking up! If you want to hear from me monthly, join WP:QAI, and if you want to hear from me daily use User Gerda Arendt/Top (which is easier). --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:52, 17 February 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Tamara Milashkina
—Ganesha811 (talk) 00:02, 20 February 2024 (UTC) My story was different, mentioning the Music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:



Tamara Milashkina, the first Soviet Russian soprano trained at La Scala, portrayed Russian characters with emotion and authenticity touring with the Bolshoi Theatre as Tchaikovsky's Tatyana at the Vienna State Opera and as Lisa at the Metropolitan Opera.

18 January 2024 --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:17, 20 February 2024 (UTC)

Listen to my next subject singing Tchaikovsky. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:38, 20 February 2024 (UTC)


 * Moving Grimes2 (talk) 16:20, 20 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Thanks for this treat! (How is it that you know what I like?) Viriditas (talk) 19:10, 20 February 2024 (UTC)
 * You like what I like. Thank you for coming over. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:51, 21 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Thankyou for the Tchaikowsky "Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt" (Nyet, tolko tot menya). You were lucky to hear such a performance live. I like the old Melodiya version by Sergei Lemeshev (his alluring measure and sweetness) but of course quite a different affair to your singer's noble account. Why is it (language aside) that Tchaikowsky's setting never really feels like Goethe? Is it Russian pessimism colliding with echt German Welt-angst? Do the Russian lyrics really render the same words? In the English versions, "None but the desolate" beats "None but the lonely heart", but both are entirely inadequate: you don't get that resonance of the desolate individual such as you also have in "Wer nie sein Brot mit Thränen aß..."Eebahgum (talk) 13:02, 22 February 2024 (UTC)
 * (I saw her on stage but with completely different music, and as Suzuki, Cherubino and Paolo.) I can't tell for the Russian, but know that some German words and probably concepts have no true expression in English, and "Sehnsucht" is one of them. Music, however, is much more internationally understood. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:31, 22 February 2024 (UTC)
 * These came in response to my message:


 * The image, taken on a cemetery last year after the funeral of a distant but dear family member, commemorates today, with thanks for their achievements, four subjects mentioned on the Main page and Vami_IV, a friend here. Listen to music by Tchaikovsky (an article where one of the four is pictured), sung by today's subject (whose performance on stage I enjoyed two days ago).
 * Yesterday I learned that a friend suddenly died; we both belonged to a group that traveled once a year for decades, and I remember her vivid talk last summer, same voice and sparkle as when we met. Her song for me was Take the "A" Train, sung by Ella Fitzgerald. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:38, 22 February 2024 (UTC)
 * The image pictures hope. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:38, 22 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Seele, vergiß sie nicht --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:41, 23 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Today is her birthday. Once we went to St. Stephan together, after meeting for good food. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:07, 27 February 2024 (UTC)

Thank you
Thank you for all the work you do on Wikipedia, from ITN to all your contributions to various topics such as churches, women, and German articles. It is hard workers like you that help to improve the project, and are an inspiration to many who want to also continually improve the project as well. Cheers, atque supra! Fakescientist8000 17:36, 21 February 2024 (UTC)
 * It is a pleasure to expand knowledge, and double so when recognized, - thank you! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:27, 21 February 2024 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!

 * Thank you, blushing, - I try, look above. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:40, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

29 February 2024
is a rare birthday:  Gioachino Rossini (born 29 February 1792) scored the last of his "sins of old age", the ''Petite messe solennelle, for twelve singers, two pianos, and harmonium. listen When Heather Phillips made her European debut in Rossini's Bianca e Falliero, her nuanced coloraturas served to portray Bianca's development. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:02, 29 February 2024 (UTC)

new section
please continue to leave messages at my talk page where you are always welcome. I may not respond every time but I do follow the links. Your messages are uplifting and encouraging. You are PRECIOUS to me. -- A Rose Wolf  18:32, 29 February 2024 (UTC)
 * I love that, thank you for the unexpected visit: I thought you were gone for weeks --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:37, 29 February 2024 (UTC)
 * I can never tell. I may be able to log in for days in a row and then be away for weeks. I was off for a week and came back for several days and was gone again for several more recently. I will have to take a couple of weeks in March at the very least. -- A Rose Wolf  18:49, 29 February 2024 (UTC)

March flowers
The flowers photographed last year on the island of Madeira became a symbol for missing Vami_IV. They are connected to another stay on the island. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:41, 1 April 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Cecelia Hall (mezzo-soprano)
Wa</b><b style="color:#86D">g</b><b style="color:#75C">ge</b><b style="color:#83C">r</b><b  style="color:#728">s</b><small  style="color:#080">TALK  00:03, 23 March 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Kelsey Lauritano
&spades;PMC&spades; (talk) 00:03, 26 March 2024 (UTC)


 * Thought this said "a reviewer from the FAC" at first and I was like huh?? :D DanCherek (talk) 11:48, 27 March 2024 (UTC)

Easter
Any ideas for Easter hooks? Lightburst (talk) 23:20, 28 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you for asking. No, sorry, not this year. I have four nominations for people who recently died, two are open, - that kept me busy. What I wanted was Bach's St John Passion for OTD tomorrow, first performed on Good Friday 1724, but I was reverted claiming that OTD can't go by feast but only by date, so it would have to be 7 April. Impossible. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 23:27, 28 March 2024 (UTC)

Good Friday
<div style="margin: auto; max-width:45em; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba( 192, 192, 192, 0.75 ); border-radius: 1em; border: 1px solid #a7d7f9; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0.5em 1em 1em; color: black;" class="ui-helper-clearfix">

... that on Good Friday 2020, Benedikt Kristjánsson sang all roles in a chamber arrangement of Bach's St John Passion, composed for Good Friday 1724, broadcast live from the composer's burial place.

look and listen · look forward

22 May 2020 I remember listening to the performance live, early in the lockdown, the festival cancelled when it had be scheduled to be performed ... He has it in #2 in his media, preceded by Tristis est anima mea. - He will sing Bach with us in May, Ascension Oratorio. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:18, 29 March 2024 (UTC)

I listen now on radio to the St John Passion from the Berliner Philharmonie, with the RIAS Kammerchor, Evangelist beginning, - teaser, broadcast. - I uploaded the images from 17 March, beginning with a "bloody" morning sky and ending with a procession of a figure of Jesus carrying the Cross, with a wind band and drums. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:22, 29 March 2024 (UTC)

Easter Sunday
<div style="margin: auto; max-width:35em; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba( 192, 192, 192, 0.75 ); border-radius: 1em; border: 1px solid #a7d7f9; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0.5em 1em 1em; color: black;" class="ui-helper-clearfix"> For Easter 1724, his first as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, Johann Sebastian Bach revived Christ lag in Todes Banden , (Christ lay in death's bonds) BWV 4, a chorale cantata he had composed in his twenties, using in all seven movements the words and tune of Luther's 1524 Easter chorale.

24 April 2011

listen Remembering Easter 300 years ago continues: Bach revived for for his first Easter as Thomaskantor in Leipzig a masterpiece from his early career, his first chorale cantata, and how different from those to come a few weeks after this. - Per chance, I received the YouTube link today from the conductor who just uploaded it to mark the occasion. I sang with the Idsteiner Solisten several times but not in that performance. You can follow the music! - I also uploaded more images, from a tropical garden and a famous nearby church. Happy Easter! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:55, 31 March 2024 (UTC)

Easter Monday
<div style="margin: auto; max-width:37em; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba( 192, 192, 192, 0.75 ); border-radius: 1em; border: 1px solid #a7d7f9; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0.5em 1em 1em; color: black;" class="ui-helper-clearfix">

The opening chorus of Bach cantata for the Second Day of Easter, Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66, first performed in 1724 has been termed "one of the longest and most exhilarating of Bach's early works".

25 April 2011

listen ... and the following day, Leipzig could listen to "exhilarating" music which we performed in 2000, with great joy. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:55, 1 April 2024 (UTC)

Happy Easter!

 * Thank you, and also to you! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:24, 1 April 2024 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!

 * Thank you, lovely! - I confess that I hoped to see Gerhard Lohfink recognised for recent deaths, - everybody: please see if you could support that, WP:ITNN. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:09, 9 April 2024 (UTC)

9 April
This was the music and memory section on 9 April: arms raised, while Marian Anderson's concert was remembered and Hildegard of Bingen's Physica reflected, - joy to the world! We see the "rock abbot" with his band, a church designed by some of the handicapped using it, and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine led by the inspiring Oksana Lyniv. Don't miss the Halleluja video ;) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:18, 10 April 2024 (UTC)

A barnstar for you!
Thank you, I had to look it up, though (while I had met Dobostorte in Budapest). Listening to Marian Anderson's "Tremble" yesterday was a revelation I wanted to share. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 14:45, 10 April 2024 (UTC)

Canvassing
Please do not canvas editors to discussions on infoboxes as you did here and here, or you will be topic banned from infobox discussions. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 19:57, 11 April 2024 (UTC)
 * Rubbing my eyes further: the question wasn't infobox yes or no (which I would see as an infobox discussion), but whether a composer's compositions belong in it. It came to an RfC, and the result was yes. - I try to avoid infobox discussions, waste of time, a ban wouldn't change much. My post to MyCatIsAChonk was an alert to an edit war (not a discussion) a few days before that article (to which he contributed) went to the Main page, and said "watch", - not "take part". My post to Barkeep49 was one in a long series of questions trying to understand where the problem is, and how to be understood. Both users expressed satisfaction with, DYK? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:08, 11 April 2024 (UTC)
 * @ScottishFinnishRadish Frankly, this warning is ridiculous and it's certainly not in good faith. Nemov (talk) 21:06, 11 April 2024 (UTC)
 * Nemov, this is serious AE stuff. - I've been there before, ScottishFinnishRadish. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:25, 11 April 2024 (UTC)
 * There's a few things to address here. First, an infobox discussion isn't solely a discussion about if an infobox should be included in an article. Discussions about how to implement an infobox are also infobox discussions. This is similar to a discussion about pizza could be a discussion about if people want to eat pizza, or what type of pizza they would like to eat. Also, there was no edit war, had reverted the edit you made, and you had already started a discussion. A single revert is not an edit war, but reaching out to someone to ask them to watch an article, even if it was just after a revert without discussion, is canvassing. Even moreso when there is an active discussion on the talk page. Saying "watch" rather than "make an edit supporting me" doesn't provide immunity from canvassing rules. Lastly, the outcome of a discussion also has no bearing on if you violated the canvassing guideline. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 21:59, 11 April 2024 (UTC)
 * Please look a bit deeper into the edit history of the article (Sorry, it is too late, and my memory: the following was Vivaldi.) Yes, Nikkimaria reverted only once, but there were four reverts. - Also: I wrote to many people that day, - canvassing (for me at least) would have meant telling all about this. But no, MyCatIsAChonk, because of the upcoming TFA appearance of Appalachian Spring. That was an alert, and if reaching out to someone to be watchful is canvassing we really don't understand the word the same way. A few days later, and happier, I asked many people how they liked the compromise? Barkeep49, for example, in the same thread as what you linked. - It's past midnight where I live, and it's a funeral day for me, - please excuse me and put things in perspective. For example achieve more compromise. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 22:46, 11 April 2024 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure why I'm being pinged. All that I've said is I have no opinion on this and whatever consensus is reached will be good by me. Barkeep49 (talk) 23:43, 11 April 2024 (UTC)

Your GA nomination of Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104
The article Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104 you nominated as a good article has passed ; see Talk:Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104 for comments about the article, and Talk:Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104/GA1 for the nomination. Well done! If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of MyCatIsAChonk -- MyCatIsAChonk (talk) 11:43, 13 April 2024 (UTC)

"Not dead, but very wet"
Dear Gerda, Thankyou for your several kind and cheerful messages over the past couple of months. In case you are wondering, I have not slipped off this mortal coil, at least not yet, but have for various reasons given myself a rest from wp. For one thing I am terribly busy with my supercentenarian Mum whose daily needs for attention are many - for another, I have a progressing series of ailments of my own, including Parkinson's, which keep me feeling fairly grotty - but, most influentially, since my last editing efforts, I have a sense of complete futility at editing here when confronted with the sort of criticisms and condescension which provoked my last long reply on my talk page. I haven't got the stomach to rise to the bait. However I am still here and still watching. Eebahgum (talk) 08:20, 19 April 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you, and no, I grant every friend long silences ;) - best wishes for you and your mother! Please keep reading - I provide my daily stories thinking of people like you. I was in the performance mentioned today (with trailer), - in 2018 DYK made that possible, but 2024 is a different troupe. I carry my load of condescension (see above) but it doesn't keep me from proclaiming the miracle that music is. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 08:28, 19 April 2024 (UTC)

A bowl of strawberries for you!

 * Thank you, I try ;) (forgot to sign yesterday) --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:20, 25 April 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 00:02, 30 April 2024 (UTC)

A barnstar for you
Thank you for caring, but I am not quite sure what you mean. If you refer to erratic posts with edit summaries removed, they don't bother me much. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:53, 7 May 2024 (UTC)


 * Ah! I suppose I overthought what they might've been. I'm glad you're unbothered—better that you're untroubled than the opposite, even if it leaves egg on my face. Hydrangeans (she/her &#124; talk &#124; edits) 06:46, 9 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Please wash the egg away, - I am troubled by the discussion mentioned in the thread below. - Today, however, is a feast day, look on top, and if you have little time, just listen and be happy. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:56, 9 May 2024 (UTC)

The Manual of Style is a contentious topic

 * connected by me --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:56, 9 May 2024 (UTC)

You have recently made edits related to the English Wikipedia Manual of Style and article titles policy. This is a standard message to inform you that the English Wikipedia Manual of Style and article titles policy is a designated contentious topic. This message does not imply that there are any issues with your editing. For more information about the contentious topics system, please see Contentious topics. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 12:29, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
 * ScottishFinnishRadish, could you please tell me one edit that seems to show that I am not aware? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:42, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
 * It's a standard notification. You'll notice I gave that notification to every editor involved in the discussion that you asked me to look at. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 12:44, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
 * That doesn't explain. The discussion is on Talk:Peter Grimes. My topics there had nothing to do with MoS questions. I wondered why a change from Zurich to Zürich (not by me) wasn't simply accepted, and I wondered why we link to Zürich at all instead of Zürich Opera House. Any explanations and clarifications are welcome. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 12:51, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
 * why a change from Zurich to Zürich (not by me) wasn't simply accepted is a discussion related to the MOS. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 12:56, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
 * How? Zurich is acceptable, and Zürich is acceptable, and Zürich Opera House is better than both, and Zürcher Stadttheater might be best as the historic name at the time. All could go home and do something worth arguing about. No? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:01, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Liviu Holender
RoySmith (talk) 00:03, 22 May 2024 (UTC)


 * Another singer at DYK, and an excellent one at that! I find the subject of the hook interesting, even if it did require an extensive fight. The anti-opera DYK reviewers are quick to the draw... MyCatIsAChonk (talk) (not me) <small style="font-size:66%;">(also not me) <small style="font-size:45%;">(still no) 01:05, 22 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you! In the end, we have a hook with five composers! The opera by a composer banned by the Nazis appeared with his partner on stage who will sing her songs on 28 May. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:47, 22 May 2024 (UTC)

<div style="margin: auto; max-width:47em; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba( 192, 192, 192, 0.75 ); border-radius: 1em; border: 1px solid #a7d7f9; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0.5em 1em 1em; color: black;" class="ui-helper-clearfix">

Baritone Liviu Holender chose lieder by five composers whose music was banned by the Nazis —Schreker, Zemlinsky, Mahler, Korngold and Schönberg— for a recital at the Oper Frankfurt. watch one

Verdi: Messa da Requiem 22 May 1874

22 May 2024 This was the story. I am happy that all six composers mentioned, even the unlinked Verdi, received views around 1k or higher. I believe that it is a myth that our audience isn't interested in such things. Thanks to Mary Mark Ockerbloom who bravely approved the hook.

As it happens, today's story is about singing in defiance ;) - look and listen! - Ten years ago, I worded the hook that appeared OTD, and I quoted from the hymn - together with a pointer to Kafka - already in my response to the 2013 arbitration decision, in the same mood of singing in defiance. I still stand and sing. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:57, 23 May 2024 (UTC)

Women in Green GA Editathon June 2024 - Going Back in Time
<div style="border: 6px solid #2bbf08; background: #FFF; background-color:#FFFFFF; padding: 1ex 1ex 1ex 1.5ex; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; font-size: 99%"> Hello Gerda Arendt:

WikiProject Women in Green is holding a  month-long Good Article Edit-a-thon event in June 2024!

Running from June 1 to 30, 2024, WikiProject Women in Green (WiG) is hosting a Good Article (GA) edit-a-thon event with the theme Going Back in Time! All experience levels welcome. Never worked on a GA project before? We'll teach you how to get started. Or maybe you're an old hand at GAs – we'd love to have you involved! Participants are invited to work on nominating and/or reviewing GA submissions related to women and women's works (e.g., books, films) during the event period. We hope to collectively cover article subjects from at least 20 centuries by month's end. GA resources and one-on-one support will be provided by experienced GA editors, and participants will have the opportunity to earn a special WiG barnstar for their efforts.

We hope to see you there! &#126;~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 16:18, 24 May 2024 (UTC)
 * AirshipJungleman29, thank you for the invitation. How about Magdalena Hinterdobler, or would it have to be earlier than 21st century? How about Ethel Smyth, contemplated before the invitation, or not because I didn't add much yet to the article? Actually, I'd pursue both without the event, Smyth rather later then. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:18, 26 May 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Samuel Kummer
RoySmith (talk) 00:02, 30 May 2024 (UTC) That hook was short for my idea: <div style="margin: auto; max-width:39em; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba( 192, 192, 192, 0.75 ); border-radius: 1em; border: 1px solid #a7d7f9; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0.5em 1em 1em; color: black;" class="ui-helper-clearfix">

Samuel Kummer chose for his first recital as the organist of the restored Frauenkirche in Dresden music by Bach, Brahms, Max Reger, Louis Vierne, and himself.

watch him improvising

30 May 2024

Ave verum corpus I had no time to fight the abbreviated version which reads as if he was narrow-minded (only three composers, and all of them German), as if he only followed mainstream, and as if he saw himself among the prominent Bs (Bach Beethoven Brahms). Sad. On my screen, the word "himself" sat alone in an otherwise empty line. Sad. Please watch him playing. If you have more time read about Reger and Vierne. If you have even more time, read the Main page which had another TFA by Vami (that I suggested), two who recently died and Bach's cantata for his first service as Thomaskantor, with him pictured. If you have still more time, see Music, for today's service and procession songs and a fascinating opera. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 21:51, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

1 June
Today's TFA is Ludwigsburg Palace, written by Vami_IV. I miss lines such as (from the FAC)
 * I gave the lead a can of spinach and it seems to have bulked up pretty good. ... – ♠Vami _IV†♠  18:17, 3 November 2018 (UTC)

The Ludwigsburg Festival begins there today, and looking for a sample, I found the opening concert of 2022, for peace, Oksana Lyniv from Ukraine conducting Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23, with pianist Iddo Bar-Shai from Israel, and Mahler's Fifth Symphony. Better than words. Roses of missing. Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:59, 1 June 2024 (UTC)

Your GA nomination of Magdalena Hinterdobler
The article Magdalena Hinterdobler you nominated as a good article has passed ; see Talk:Magdalena Hinterdobler for comments about the article, and Talk:Magdalena Hinterdobler/GA1 for the nomination. Well done! If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of MyCatIsAChonk -- MyCatIsAChonk (talk) 21:04, 4 June 2024 (UTC)

Your GA nomination of Cecelia Hall (mezzo-soprano)
The article Cecelia Hall (mezzo-soprano) you nominated as a good article has passed ; see Talk:Cecelia Hall (mezzo-soprano) for comments about the article, and Talk:Cecelia Hall (mezzo-soprano)/GA1 for the nomination. Well done! If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of 750h+ -- 750h+ (talk) 12:03, 14 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Interesting, carefully prepared article. You might be interested in looking through my much shorter Elisabet Strid which I've created in connection with Women in Red's current focus on Women in Music.--Ipigott (talk) 05:43, 16 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you. It became the work of many after a user marked a source as promotional, and its use as unethical (see DYK nom, on the talk, and compare also Daniela Kerck and its nomination). He would probably say the same about Bolshoi. I don't share the view, but didn't have the language to be understood, and the question what in the source would be promotional remained unanswered. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:27, 16 June 2024 (UTC)

Thanks
I'm not sure I've ever acknowledged your "Precious Anniversary" notes in my talk page over the years, but thank you for them. I haven't been quite as active around here now as I was in the past, but I have managed to create a few articles... most recently for the latest J. K. Rowling Cormoran Strike novel, The Running Grave. &#42;Dan T.* (talk) 18:24, 16 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you for coming over! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 18:58, 16 June 2024 (UTC)

What a day…
You're truly a gem, wow! The warmth and generosity you bring to Wikipedia oozes through every interaction I see you're involved, even though we haven't spoken directly. Your encouraging words to others are a beacon that guides and inspires me in this project. Your presence here is a lifeline, truly. Keep shining your light – it's making a difference. Warmest regards, Vanderwaalforces (talk) 20:11, 18 June 2024 (UTC)
 * blushing - thank you, nice to meet you! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 20:14, 18 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Same here! Vanderwaalforces (talk) 20:35, 18 June 2024 (UTC)

DYK for Daniela Kerck
&mdash; Amakuru (talk) 00:02, 25 June 2024 (UTC) The image in my story is what I happened to see from my seat (in a performance before the festival when Anna Netrebko sang the title role, but sold out of course, and the other was possibly the icier Principessa anyway). Don't miss the video of the trailer: much stronger storytelling than all hook words ;) - Looking at the review may teach you something. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:23, 25 June 2024 (UTC)

❤ your work from INDIA
You are a Good Wikipedian, enjoy your time with this kitten..!!🙂

UnKnownrNone (talk) 06:51, 28 June 2024 (UTC) <br style="clear: both;"/>

Women in Red August 2024
--Lajmmoore (talk 14:27, 30 June 2024 (UTC) via MassMessaging

DYK for Zwei Gesänge, Op. 1 (Schoenberg)
RoySmith (talk) 00:03, 1 July 2024 (UTC) The hook was changed to mention at least the title. It's still without any hint at the character of work. Read, listen find out. Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:14, 1 July 2024 (UTC)

July
2 July, Visitation, was the 300th anniversary of Bach's chorale cantata on a Gregorian chant (a contradiction in terms but he made it work), Meine Seel erhebt den Herren, BWV 10.

3 July is the birthday of Leoš Janáček, and I'm happy I had a meaningful DYK in 2021. It's also the birthday of Franz Kafka, and I uploaded pics from his family's album seen in Berlin. -- Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:09, 3 July 2024 (UTC)
 * (copied from the talk of the user who brought Janáček to GA.)
 * Hi Gerda . I scrolled through your page of stories and I must say ... your choice, variety and variability of topics, overall beauty and aesthetic of your contributions is so close to my heart like nothing else on Wikipedia. I'm sending you my favourite and most beautiful piece from On an Overgrown Path, it's performed by lesser known but excellent Jan Jiraský, who connects very well the lyrical expression and urgent or maybe even anxious rhythmical contradiction present in many of Janáček's works in one moment. Enjoy and ... be well. Vejvančický (talk / contribs) 08:42, 4 July 2024 (UTC)
 * blushing - thank you for understanding! I listened with joy! The closest I came to Janáček was singing the Glagolitic Mass in choir, understanding how his music is language-driven and so expressive. Seeing the Vixen (not cunning, not little) in Munich was also great. - I added a few images, - keep looking at story music places, - for example today's music matching the Italian tenor of the story. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:38, 4 July 2024 (UTC)

WiG Editathon Barnstar

 * Thank you! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:49, 4 July 2024 (UTC)

Your GA nomination of Tamara Milashkina
The article Tamara Milashkina you nominated as a good article has passed ; see Talk:Tamara Milashkina for comments about the article, and Talk:Tamara Milashkina/GA1 for the nomination. Well done! If the article is eligible to appear in the "Did you know" section of the Main Page, you can nominate it within the next seven days. Message delivered by ChristieBot, on behalf of Viriditas -- Viriditas (talk) 22:40, 3 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you for the review, Viriditas, I learned a lot! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 06:49, 4 July 2024 (UTC)

RD: Liana Isakadze
Liana Isakadze has died. The article might be of interest to you. Best, -- Classicwiki (talk) If you reply to me here, please ping me. 19:10, 5 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Yes, thank you. Begun, more tomorrow. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 19:59, 5 July 2024 (UTC)

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
I see the thanks you gave me for my updates on him, do you think they're enough to change the class of the article? Thank you. Wikieditor662 (talk) 15:04, 10 July 2024 (UTC)
 * I don't care much about "classes", and know the article too little. Project classical music has no classes other than GA and FA. For GA, I don't think it's sufficient, but would have to look closer than I have now time. - I wondered about a removal of an interlanguage link, finding them highly useful. I wanted to restore it but couldn't find the spot, - perhaps you could do that? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:13, 10 July 2024 (UTC)
 * While I agree it does not deserve a good article, there are other classes (C, B, and A) that have been given to other classical composers, so I believe that it is possible.
 * The interlanguage thing is supposed to link to a person named Miklós Spányi. However, I don't believe his name works in english, so the script has the name in red while only the link next to it works. Wikieditor662 (talk) 15:31, 10 July 2024 (UTC)
 * For the classes, you will have to ask someone who cares ;) - The interlanguage link serves multiple functions:
 * It tells a reader that a subject has no article yet in English, and also how such article should be named (which can be different).
 * It tells a reader that the subject has an article in a different language, and names that language by its 2-letter-code, and enables a link to the other article.
 * It tells a reader that the subject is notable in a different language.
 * It invites to create the English article, which - when created - transforms the link into a blue link to it.
 * Much to gain, nothing to loose. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 15:37, 10 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Alright, I readded the interlanguage. Thank you! Wikieditor662 (talk) 16:11, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

Article translation request
Hi Gerda. The English wiki could really use an article on the historic German record label de:Ultraphon. Many historic opera/classical music recordings were made by the company. It would probably make a good DYK nom too. Best.4meter4 (talk) 15:14, 12 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you, I'll see when I can fit it in, next week the soonest. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 05:47, 13 July 2024 (UTC)

Invitation to discussion
@Gerda Arendt You had previously put forth your suggestions at Catherine's FAC. Hence I feel it will be only appropriate to invite you to the article's peer review discussion before it is listed for a second time at FAC. Also thanks for all your messages at my talk page. Looking forward to your response. Regards. MSincccc (talk) 06:58, 15 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you for the invitation! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 07:03, 15 July 2024 (UTC)
 * @Gerda Arendt I know you have other commitments here on English Wikipedia but will you comment at Catherine's FAC in the near future? Looking forward to your response. Regards. MSincccc (talk) 10:31, 15 July 2024 (UTC)
 * See, I never know, working on the recent deaths which happen without prediction. My task today is Ruth Hesse, and if time is left for reviewing, I'll turn to one I have postponed for weeks already. "Yours" is second in line ;) - I supported the article as it was, - can you point at changed places that should receive my attention? --Gerda Arendt (talk) 10:43, 15 July 2024 (UTC)
 * The Public life section has been divided into two sections for reader clarity whereas the Public image section has been expanded multiple times. The Charity work section has been trimmed as have the other sections. Furthermore, new book sources have been introduced and previous sources have been replaced with higher quality ones from reputable newspapers if possible. This is all. Looking forward to your response and thanks for your time. Regards. MSincccc (talk) 10:51, 15 July 2024 (UTC)
 * One more point, please. Under the Public life section, care has been taken to mention only those overseas tours and official engagements which had a motive or a significant outcome. Hence, I have also introduced single sentences which mention how the trip/engagement went and how the public/media reacted to it (for the latter, I used the sources which are considered as a generally reliable). I hope I have made the changes introduced in the article since the FAC clear to you. Looking forward to your response and thanks for your time. Regards. MSincccc (talk) 16:20, 16 July 2024 (UTC)

Newsham's unaccompanied four-part mass
Do you know anyone who could track down this composer and music for me? I am currently working on an article about an English Roman Catholic priest who died in Yorkshire, England, in 1905. The above mass was sung for him after he died. It was described as a solemn high mass of requiem, and the above title for the composition was given in the newspaper.

There is a place called Newsham in Yorkshire, and there was an abbey in that area, called Newsham Abbey - but I don't know whether Newsham the composer was connected with those places, or whether he was as old as the abbey, or if he was a later composer. The place and the abbey may have no connection with him or the music - I just don't know.

Knowing more about the composer and music is not vital for the article, but I always like to give full info if I can. I have done lots of googling, with no luck. Storye book (talk) 09:33, 16 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Interesting detective work. I don't know any clue. Did you search for just "Requiem" because that is what a Requiem mass would normally be called? Project classical music might help. Aza24? - Thank you for an expressive image for Ruth Hesse! --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:39, 16 July 2024 (UTC)
 * A puzzle piece that may fit or not: Matthew Newsham. --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:46, 16 July 2024 (UTC)
 * same: a cappella by Charles Newsham --Gerda Arendt (talk) 09:54, 16 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Yes! That has to be him. President of Ushaw College near Durham, wrote and edited books of plainsong-type stuff, was a Roman Catholic clergyman - has to be him. Whoopee - well done! I'll put the details in as a refn note. I know that in the late C18 to the early C19 they were reviving things like Shakespeare and plainsong, and there was the beginning of a medievalist obsession around that time, so he was part of a larger movement. Fascinating. Thank you. Storye book (talk) 10:20, 16 July 2024 (UTC)