Whitout going outside his door, one understands (all that takes place) under the sky; without looking out from his window, one sees the Tao of Heaven. The farther that one goes out (from himself), the less he knows. Therefore the sages got their knowledge without travelling; gave their (right) names to things without seeing them; … More Miracles
A New Year What is it, a new year? What is new in a year? Can a year be new? It is just a number. A number out of many numberswe have in our lifes. It is about something bigger, this celebration of the new year. It is a celebration in hope. Hope that the … More New Year’s celebration
Bach: Christmas Oratorio, Choral “Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht!” Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht, Und lass den Himmel tagen! Du Hirtenvolk, erschrecke nicht, Weil dir die Engel sagen, Dass dieses schwache Knäbelein Soll unser Trost und Freude sein, Dazu den Satan zwingen, Und letztlich Friede bringen! Break out, O beautiful light of morning, and let … More The light of Christmas
Music. An expression of my feelings. A snapshot of my being. A way to the divine. AR ‘Chaconne’ by S. Karg-Elert, played by myself:
Brahms’ music in his Academic Festival Overture reminds me of celebrating. Written for a celebration it exceeds its title to me and goes towards a much bigger celebration. The celebration of life. Now. Not to wait with celebrating in this very moment. Let us celebrate my friend. Why? Because we are. What more reason does … More Celebration of life. Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture.
Seriousness. A few words. More silence. A light in the night. Taking yourself seriously. Maybe a way to happiness. AR Bach-Siloti: Prelude in B minor, Emil Gilels:
Speed seems to be a phenomenon of our time. We say that we are racing, that the world seems to turn faster than ever.Why? Through industrialisation life became faster, and a more mechanical aspect was introduced. It brought a lot of great developments but also a side effect which I doubt we are completely aware … More Slowness. Messiaen’s L’Ascension.
What an energy there is in this recording of Beethoven’s ‘Waldstein’ Sonata by Emil Gilels. One big line, one continous drive. Who was Beethoven? What was he like?I imagine him as a force, invincible but at the same time incredibly gentle, also deeply doubting, desperate, angry or afraid – he was a whole caleidoscope.He was … More Essences. Beethoven and Gilels.
What is autumn? Is it the time of farewell or the time of a new beginning? ‘The leaves are falling’ Rilke writes in his poem below. But there is a big: though.It is like in the end of Brahms song ‘Im Herbst’. (Listen below) It doesn’t end with the falling. ‘And yet there is Someone’ … More Autumn’s gentleness.
Mozart used minor tonality seldomly in his compositions but when he did, it is incredibly expressive. I have barely heard deeper expression of sorrow or sadness than in Mozart’s minor passages. Whilst in his major tonality colours Mozart’s music expresses a joy which couldn’t be more joyful to me. It comes often with a seriousness, … More Who are we? Mozart’s gift to us.
Where does the word end, where does the essence hide, where does it make itself unreachable for the human mind? How far can our mind go or is it not better to leave things where they aren’t possible to put into concreteness? Rilke and Rachmaninov are for me both mystics. Rilke’s descriptions of God in … More Mysticism. Rilke and Rachmaninov.
Width. I am often longing for width. Sometimes I go up a hill to have an overview, hiking in the mountains or to the sea. Then the horizon seems far away and the world bigger. It gives me a feeling of more space. More space around me and inside of me. I found this width … More Width. Bartok’s and Sibelius’ musical paintings.
What a joy listening! I recently discovered Bartok’s 1st suite and got stuck at the beginning. Maybe you will too? Listen to this stunning recording of Bartok’s Suite No. 1 – Allegro vivace with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Thomas Dausgaard: I feel in this music a will for life, a life-affirming energy. It … More Joy! The beginning of Bartok’s 1st suite
Brahms’ Hungarian Dances arranged by Thomas Dausgaard freely associated with texts by Eichendorff, Rilke, Trakl and others. An invitation for ears and eyes. Hungarian Dance No. 2 (click on the spotify button): Laß dich die Welt nicht fangen, Brich durch, mein freudig Herz, Ein ernsteres Verlangen Erheb dich himmelwärts! Greif in die goldnen Saiten, Da … More Connections. Brahms’ Hungarian Dances freely associated.
What is humaneness? Is it altruism? Is it respecting each other? Is it helping each other? What is it, being human? What is it, humaneness? Humanity has suffered terrible wars, genocides, illnesses, hunger, cruelty – darkness of all kinds. Where does this darkness in humanity come from? Where? Nobody is born evil. What is it … More What is humaneness?
Do we have answers? Or is it an illusion that we have answers? What kind of answers do we have? We know how things function. We know how electricity works. How to learn something. How to calculate numbers. How to make something. We have answers to the visible for our eyes.But do we know why? … More About answers.
The leaves are falling, falling as if from far up, as if distant gardens were withering in the skies. Each leaf falls as if it were motioning “no.” And tonight the heavy earth is falling away from all other stars in the loneliness. We’re all falling. This hand here is falling. And look at the … More Transience.
Mahler symphony No. 7: I. Langsam. Allegro risoluto ma non troppo. Authenticity. What is it? Mahler’s music, especially the opening of his 7th symphony speaks to me about this. Authenticity. In which sense? In its clarity. In its pureness in expression. In its pureness of human expression. There is no darkness that isn’t included in … More Authenticity. Mahler’s 7th symphony overture.
Bach – ,,Sanctify us by Thy Goodness”, Hubert Harry. Our soul is like a pearl. Once you opened the shell, you are free. Free to shine. Free to reveal Your truth. A. Rossius
Associations. Let yourself be led. Bach-Siloti: Prelude in B minor, Emil Gilels. I see the world from outside. People, crying and laughing. People, going through their deepest pain and experiencing their greatest joy. All humanity. Since the beginning of time. A. Rossius Sibelius: Andante festivo for strings. “I believe in the suneven when it is … More Hope.
Bach Lute Suite in C minor IV. Gigue – V. Double by Franz Halász: Im Regen geschriebenvon Hilde Domin Wer wie die Biene wäre, der die Sonne auch durch den Wolkenhimmel fühlt, die den Weg zur Blüte findet und nie die Richtung verliert, dem lägen die Felder in ewigem Glanz, wie kurz er auch lebte, … More Be(e)ing.
Bruckner symphony No. 4 I. Bewegt, nicht zu schnell What is freedom? A friend once showed me a picture where you could see a man who was in prison but in his mind he was free. Majestic waterfalls and eagles flying in the air enriched his mind whilst he was sitting in jail. On the … More Freedom. Bruckner’s 4th.
Kodály Zoltán: Evening song – Esti dal: Your first word was light, and time began. Then for long you were silent. Your second word was man, and fear began, which grips us still. Are you about to speak again? I don’t want your third word. Sometimes I pray: Please don’t talk. Let all your doing … More Creation. Esti dal.
Mahler symphony No. 6 I. Allegro energico, ma non troppo Darkness. We fear it. Many words describe this matter. Diabolic. Malevolent. Bad. Evil. Vile. Where does this darkness come from? We all know darkness, also from within. We all have also dark sides. Sides we better don’t look into. Sides we don’t want anybody to … More About darkness. Mahler’s 6th.
Schubert Impromtu in G-flat major by Dinu Lipatti: Apfelbaum Ein Wind singt. Rot gefärbt durch die reifen Früchte. Er wiegt die Äste, streichelt die Blätter. Sanft. Auch sein knorriges Fell berührt er. Das Meer hat ihm seine Form gegeben. Siehst Du die Krater, die Meeresgräben, die Küsten? Vögel nehmen Platz auf ihm. Bienen summen in … More Love.
Bach – Piano, Chorale, Sanctify us by Thy Goodness by Hubert Harry: Infinity Maybe we are infinite. Infinity is very hard to imagine. Can a human imagine infinity? Is it possible? When I listen to Hubert Harry’s Bach, I feel the melody began already somewhere in this galaxy and continues somewhere else there, somewhere we … More Infinity.
What is beauty? What is beautiful in this world? Let yourself be led on a journey in A Minor. I created a ‘musical lecture’ which combines music and texts in a chronological order, like a playlist. The texts and music are complementing each other. Click on the spotify button below for the playlist and on … More About beauty, in A minor. A musical lecture.
Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte:
What does death mean? I created a ‘musical lecture’ which combines music and texts in a chronological order, like a playlist. The texts and music are complementing each other. Click on the spotify playlist below for the music and on the download button here for the text: