Apr 9, 2008
Otro Caleidoscopio Cromático
Foto: Complejo
Second installment of the caleidoscope series: An attempt to break the psychological resistance and prejudices concerning warmth and melody in heavily engineered electronic music.
The MFA – The difference it makes (Original Mix)
(Balance 005 : James Holden / 2003)
Nightguy – Pretty Face
(Speicher 58 / 2008)
Fabian Gatti - Windexpress
(windexpress ep / 2008)
Raz Ohara and the Odd Orchestra – Kisses (Pantha du Prince remix)
(Kisses / 2007)
Sennh – I am with you
(I am with you / 2007)
Ellen Allien – Sehnsucht
(Berlinette / 2004)
Lucio Aquilina – Magic M
(Magic M /2007)
Moonbeam – Slow Heart
(Spring story / 2008)
Sehnsucht is one of those German words that it is almost impossible to translate adequately. Along with Weltschmerz (world weariness or taedium vitae), the stage director and author Georg Tabori called Sehnsucht one of those quasi-mystical terms in German for which there is no satisfactory corresponding term in another language.
It is already a tough proposition for us German speakers to describe Sehnsucht. Tender longing goes hand in hand with the painful knowledge that the thing longed for will never quite be attained.
Indeed, you even get the feeling that the granting of an eagerly awaited wish could immediately bring about the destruction of the desired object. The English writer Oscar Wilde described the dilemma aptly when he said: “In this world there are only two tragedies: one is not getting what you want, the other is getting it.” The word Sehnsucht itself expresses this conflict.
Despite these rational objections, once people have been gripped by Sehnsucht (desire), they are unable to shake off their longing. It is this close relationship (encapsulated in one word) between ardent longing or yearning (das Sehnen) and addiction (die Sucht ) that lurks behind each longing waiting to turn the feeling into a destructive, self-defeating force.
If it is true that the word Sehnsucht is untranslatable – and indeed most languages make do with the word Verlangen (désir, desire or longing) or Nostalgie (nostalgie, nostalgia) – this in no way means that the feeling of Sehnsucht is a state of mind peculiar to German speakers. The feeling of Sehnsucht is universal. And it is in the non-verbal means of expression – in painting, music and the visual arts – that this universal nature can be seen to best advantage.
- Speech by Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher at the Ninth International Woodcarvers Symposium in Brienz on the theme of Sehnsucht. 10 July 2006.
see also: Caleidoscopio Cromático.
Wow, that speech was beautiful. Equally amazing is the fact that it took place at a Woodcarvers Symposium, that took me completely by surprise. (:
Also, a tremendous playlist. I especially enjoyed Windexpress.
As an avid follower of your blog it surprises me somewhat, that you are quoting Christoph Blocher, this rather shadowy political figure, that in my view stands for nothing this blog is standing for.
What xenophobic nationalist will be quoted next without comment?
PS: I enjoyed the music, though.
Thagor, thank you for pointing this out because his name didn’t ring a bell for me until you mentioned it. I doubt if Moka was aware of his far-right wing background, I don’t think she would have used it otherwise. And of course, as you said yourself, and I’m very glad you realized this, his political views are something I know that MdM does not identify with in any possible way. But should people who didn’t know who Christoph Blocher is now feel ashamed that they liked this speech? I don’t think so. The speech in itself is still a nice reading about the word Sehnsucht. I just wish he would stick with doing just that, writing speeches about nice German words. ;-)
Super photo :)
Amazing tunes Moka! Furry hugs xxx
bubbachups, moka: Sorry if my comment sounded a bit harsh. No offence ment, at all!
But as a native speaker of German, born 8 years after the liberation from the nazi regime, I’m only too well aware of every attempt to manipulate the German tongue out of whatever dubious political intensions.
On the other hand, living in Bonn, the city of van Beethoven and Schumann, the heart of german romanticism so to speak, I almost naturally find the notion of “Sehnsucht” as well worth contemplating.
So whenever in doubt about some of those awesome kraut compounds like “Sehnsucht”, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Hey thagor22, I’m truly sorry and thanks for pointing this out. Bubba pretty much spoke for me already, I wasn’t aware of who this dark political figure was and if I had known beforehand I probably wouldn’t have posted it in the first place. I just thought that his analysis of the word ‘sehnsucht’ was interesting and apolitical at least the excerpt I took from it. I’m becoming day by day more addicted to German words and the meaning behind their composition. It’s a very interesting language and I love studying it.
Usually a claim of ‘special’-ness tied to high concept is always alarming, because naturally any language has local context that can’t be translated easily.
apart from being late i’d just like to say that there are several german words ending in “-sucht”, like Rachsucht & Eifersucht (desire for revenge and jealousy). most of them seem to denote “negative” feelings, whereas Sehnsucht does not. i personally find it a bit forced to connect it directly to Sucht/addiction. i feel it’s more like a spiritual desire for a loved person whereas Verlangen (desire or longing) – if used with a person – often relates to sexual desire. in that way, Sehnsucht has an air of pureness mixed with some sort of sadness. maybe it’s hard to translate, i don’t know. but i like what you – moka – said about being fascinated by a language because it’s so much easier to find the fascinating aspects if you’re studying a language. if you’re a native speaker, very often you’re too used to the words to have an eye for their meaning.
cheers, carsten
I once watched an animation about skateboarders and roller-blade gangs. Apart from shear interest in the story-line, one scene of particular interest caught my ear. The concept of ‘Paradise’.
In a way, the premise of that short conversation between two minor characters was that ‘Wanting’ and ‘Receiving’ are two separate entities in life to be approached both with extreme caution.
To Quote Oscar Wilde: “…only two tragedies: one is not getting what you want, the other is getting it.”
I guess we can never know what true happiness is, apart from so often being clichéd in modern daytime drama. Yet to ask, journey for, long, desire and even demand for physical or spiritual objects, material possessions, status and glories can seem harmless. Everyone desires, it is purely human nature. But let me propose the idea that all of these ‘goods’ equate to a form of a ‘Paradise’. The idea that upon receiving such adornments we enter a state of happiness, accomplishment… a trance of overwhelming victory. But now let me propose the question of ‘What Next?’. No matter how far away a purpose or object seems should we strive for it, at all costs, so much as for the greater good? Or should we live in awe of what our situation might be like to achieve that goal and plainly be content with what has already been given to us? As such, would it be devastating to reach a paradise and merely be content for a short while and then move through the next door to the next goal? Or live a life-time in wonder and hope of a paradise?