Dec 20, 2006
The End and the Beginning
Those who knew
what was going on here
must make way for
those who know little.
And less than little.
And finally as little as nothing.
In the grass that has overgrown
causes and effects,
someone must be stretched out
blade of grass in his mouth
gazing at the clouds.
-Wislawa Szymborska, The End and the Beginning
Because, death is certain for the one who is born, and birth is certain for the one who dies. Therefore, you should not lament over the inevitable.
The end of birth is death; the end of death Is birth: this is ordained! and mournest thou, Chief of the stalwart arm! for what befalls Which could not otherwise befall?
-Bhagavad-Gita, Ch.2
“Virtus Sapientie“
01. Gábor Szabó – Los Matodoros (web)
02. Miles Davis – Solea (web)
03. Susana Baca – Maria Lando
04. Maurice Ravel – La Flute Enchantee
05. John Tavener – The Lament of the Mother of God at the Cross (web)
06. Murice Delage – Lahore
07. Philip Glass – Violin Concerto (3) (web)
08. Hildegard von Bingen – O Virtus Sapientie (web)
09. Pauline Viardot – Havanaise
Note: A straight forward end of year list. It is a list with expansive sound but simple, minimalist in a lot of parts. (Miles, Tavener, Glass, Bingen). Thematically it is a small essay about end and beginning. Second it is a small note about. a) what is depth in recording (La Flute Enchantee, The Lament of the Mother of God at the Cross) and composition b) example of texture use in string composition to add depth (O Virtus Sapientie) c) sample of duet with voice in term of clear recording (Havanaise).
okay. I will be back to rock mode soon. Around Christmas I usually go into bleak modern mode. :D
Maybe I should do one cheerfull christmas classical list? without getting cheesy stuff like nutcracker..etc.
THE NUTCRACKER ISN’T CHEESY!!!
yes it is. specially after you hear it 20th time within 5 weeks.
why would you hear it so many times?
i like hearing it live and performed by a philarmonic orchestra
old school
that bingen track is superb. – who’s playing?
Kronos Quartet.
Pauline Vierdot is by Cecilia Bartoli. (her famous agile voice)
I think we have reached the limit. Tavener is too minimalist for MdM. But I love the violin entrance at 6:30 or so. Very mysterious and somber. The cello solo is great.
ah Havanaise with Bartoli sounds pretty good! Will start downloading (still havent downloaded the whole post :P), and cheers for some Gabor Szabo he’s among my favorite guitarists of all time, been awhile since we had him rounding the motel.
I’m listening to the Tavener track as I write and that cello is haunting me. I see what you mean in recording depth.
Maybe I should have some sort of minimal jazz post following up.