Wall graffiti

This is a story of two different theories, two separate histories tracing the origins of the name "Biljana". If those divergent streams were to run backwards, they would've converge in one spring that sprang from a single Slavic source. More precisely, "Biljana" is typical South Slavic name. Most precisely, it is national symbol of Macedonia. 

Day 1: Biljana, The Herb

According to one of the theories the word “Biljana” is derived from the Slavic word for herbs or plants (“билје”).
As such, it integrates diverse aspects of single-herbal names derived from flowers: It includes the romantic aspect of the name “Rose” (“Роза” or “Ружа”) and the idyllic aspect of the name “Violet” (“Виолета” or “Синоличка”), the sensuality of the name “Jasmine” (“Јасмина”) and the purity of the name “Lily” (“Лилјана”). In addition, it extends to include many Slavic names derived from the buds of some fruits (such as pomegranate, strawberry or raspberry translated as “Калина”, “Малина” and “Јагода”), medicinal herbs (such as valerian translated as “Валерија”), or religious herbs (such as incense, better known as “Темјана”).
In conclusion, it is not a name, but a symbol of the majestic flora, the nature that nurtures and nourishes.

Day 4: Biljana, The Colour

According to the second theory the word “Biljana” is derived from the Slavic word for the color white (“бяла”). It was invented to indicate a girl with fair-skin, light-hair, bright-eyes. Indeed, the colour white is nothing more than streak of light. And yet again, it is a case where a single item extends to include all other items, all colours of the rainbow integrated into a mighty brightly light.

Day 7: Biljana, The Name of Names

According to a third theory (less known because it is my own), the word “Biljana” was invented when Slavic people wanted to create a name that would integrate all other female names. The name which would include the names “Iliana”, “Jana” and “Ana”.  As such it would be the ultimate symbol of Slavic femininity and it should represent supreme sensibility :-)

March the Trickster, and April the Jester are but servants to one Master. They come before him and upon his arrival take place behind him, in his great shadow. The one and only, month of May, extends the period of their festivities and exceeds them in all activities. It is the synonym of hedonism, which on the other hand is the synonym for the word “bohemia” as understood in Balkans. The following are Balkan examples for the main elements that constitute the phenomenon called “Balkan Bohemia”.

Day 1: Joy

The best depiction of Balkan definition for joy comes from the worldly renowned author, Mesha Selimovich, otherwise known for his deeply meditative, contemplative and reflexive literature.

"Her joy is above all that I love about her.
Her voice is full of laughter. The abundance of it fills her throat, drips from the lips, then slips and spills over ringing as if in alarm against bad will. Her laughter knows no reason outside itself, it boils within her, bubbling and bursting, natural as a gazer, pure and irresistible, it appears without warning and without the intention to warn nor to mock, it doesn’t want to be heard or to fill the gap of silence. It has its own sound and color, breath and width, and some peculiar meaning that resembles a cure of wisdom delivered by the alchemy of her innocent joy and lightness of being."

Excerpt from "Silences", 1961

Day 3: Passion

There is no better example for this element then the one given by the finest example of Balkan Bohemia, Miroslav Mika Antich, the man who eventually died from the overabundance of passion and pleasure in his life. His verses are so authentic and so genuinely soaked with the blood of his bohemianism that they remain almost untranslatable, transforming his lifestyle into something almost non-understandable, something above all rhyme or reason, metaphorical and metaphysical. Therefore, in this case I will sustain from translation and provide a link to one of my favorite poems “Little Rocky Nocturne” in original.

Day 5: Love above All

Little is known in the world about Anica Savich Rebac, but those that know her, admire her work and adore her philosophy. A person endowed with exceptional intellectual abilities, by the age of thirteen she was already translating Byron in her native language, by eighteen she spoke fluently all classical and leading languages of the world, only to become one of the leading experts in Hellenistic culture and literature. She was adored by the highest intellectuals of her time (among whom Milosh Crnjanski) but she devoted her life to one man only, her husband, so much as to take it by her freewill as soon as his life ended.
The essence of her work could be captured in one word: eroto-logic. She was the inventor of this word and creator of the philosophy behind it. Namely she believed in the unbreakable bond between the material and spiritual aspect of the world, the Eros and the Cosmos, and believed that the man stands in the center of this union. She also believed that the human creativity (rooted in our sensitivity) and intelligence (rooted in our senses) go hand in hand, and manifest together, thus implying that a meaningful life should always embrace both of them equally. Eros is the creative force behind all novel and original experiences, therefore only by surrendering ourselves to our sensitive nature, we would be able to lead life of inspiration and enthusiasm to its fullest.

Person outside the Balkans could be lost in wander over one small Balkan wonder:
People from Balkans personify the months of March and April as some peculiar characters, who impersonate the Balkan people in return. 

 

March and April are twins born with the birth of Spring the Sprinter, and dying with the meditative Easter. March is the Trickster and April the Jester, March a person with hundred minds, April a person with hundred faces. March is like a woman – untamed and wild, whereas April is happy and careless – just like a child. Together, they are one long extended festival, the Bacchanalias. The Bacchanalian celebrations are hedonistic (always aiming at pleasure and delight) and mystic (theatrically changing with every sight). The celebrators are also hedonistic (pouring jokes and drinking with joy) and very mystic (half telling the truth, half aiming to decoy).

The Balkan culture is filled with witty whimsical characters, its literature full with words made of different characters, but always describing a single phenomenon called “seir”. There is no proper description for this word, but there exist several illustrations. They will be enlisted in the form of musical offerings from different parts of this region, and sealed with the favorite example. All of the examples have several things in common:

Mixed musical styles, theatrical dressing styles, parodic performances and satirical verses. They aim to be rather explicit in their "implicit" criticism of the society, and therefore they are a bit raw and unrefined. This stands for all examples, except the last one. The last is actually the first on the list, standing on the very top, undefeated. The explanation is provided at the end of this article. Let the counting begin:

Day 1: Slovenia

Magnifico - Hir Aj Kam Hir Aj Go

Day 3: Macedonia

Duo Trio - Gradinarot

Day 5: Montenegro

Rambo Amadeus - Euro Neuro

Day 7: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Elvir Lakovic Laka

Halfway between an artist and a wizard, Laka pulls the ultimate trick out of his sleeves and magically transforms the unrefined framework into subtle, distilled artwork. Borrowing the form (e.g sense for the scene) from Tim Burton, and the content (e.g. the taste for verse) from E.E. Cummings, he remains playful and childlike, but sharp and to the point, much like an a adult. Wild and Wise, Wacko and a Wizard, one and only, Laka.

Poetic Example – Stvorenje
Prosaic Example – Brko
Poetic and Prosaic – Pokusaj

Enjoy!

 

Classical music is a divinity brought to us from some gracious deity. I hereby present the holy trinity of this divinity through the depictions of my holy quest for the musical paradise. Indeed, I consider the afternoon spent in Leipzig as a form of pilgrimage to the realm of classical music. While being there I had a chance to visit the memorial homes belonging to some of the many great composers that frequented the city.

Personal note about a personal list of favorites: Hath not the town of Leipzig interfered with my list, it would have included the works of Dvořák, Beethoven and Liszt, for sure.

Day 1: "Classic" = "Evergreen"

       One could easily associate the word “classic” with the word “old” and one should be right, given the assumption that he further associates the word “old” with the spring blossom of a centennial-tree or with the green leafs of a winter-tree. I dedicate this synonym to Mendelssohn, a composer who died at age of 38 in the very blossom of his life. As founder of the Leipzig musical conservatoire, he reformed the orchestra and introduced the role of the baton/conductor creating vibrant, vivid musical pieces along the way. One of my favorites is the Italian symphony.

Day 4: "Classic" = "Evermore"

          One could easily associate the word “classic” with the words “reserved” and "conservative" if one is reserved and conservative himself. To an open mind and a wide-open eye, it is nothing short of "insatiable", "consumable" and "penetrable". Passionate and emotional, much like a woman. Speaking of which, I give you Clara Schumann, the Leipzig-born composer and artist. 

Day 7: "Classic" = "Everlasting"

          One could easily associate the word “classic” with the word “out-fashioned” and one should be right. Indeed, all things classical are not ephemeral, as a trend or a fashion is. They are eternal and everlasting. They stretch over long periods of time, spread over vast areas of interest, spill over all senses. This is the exact description of Bach’s work. He spent most of his productive years in Leipzig, serving the city as a Director of Music. Therefore, the city has dedicated one of the most beautiful museums one city has ever dedicated to a man (in my humble opinion). The meticulous work invested in this museum is evident in every minute detail, up to a minuscule corpuscle. Much like the man himself, his museum is also outstanding piece of work. In addition, I will introduce en eternal piece of music on an eternal theme "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring". Enjoy.

Day 1: Precision meets Perfection

My present stay in Germany is a refreshing present for my memory. Some of my current activities evoke thoughts of my recent festivities. So, I am suddenly reminded of a wonderful concert that I attended:

Ryuici Sakamoto meets Alva Noto. Japan meets Germany. East meets West. Precision meets Perfection.

Imagine a horizontal line. Then imagine two spots marked by the words “West” and “East” standing at the opposite ends.This is a case of two spots, standing at the opposite ends of a trajectory (at least on the map) and finally coming together as one. Rare are the cases such as this, when two spots are not opposing stops but mere steps of our reunion. For the most part in our lives, we are bound to walk our trajectory constantly oscillating and fluctuating towards either of the ends, in constant communication with both of them, thus keeping their connection alive. But, only through love or through music we can truly bring them together and bind them in a single moment. A moment called eternity. This is because love and music know no boundaries and speak universal language covering distance territories.
In addition, I will enlist some examples which strike with resemblance despite the striking distance of their origin. One thing which is common for all of them is the purity of sound and purity of evoked feelings.  

Day 4: Purity I

Two musical pieces originating from the country where the first megalopolis was born:

Ennio Morricone - Gabriel's Oboe (score for the epic movie "Mission")

Nino Rota - Love Theme (score for the lyric movie "Romeo and Juliet")

Day 7: Purity II

Two musical pieces originating from the country where the last megalopolis was born:

Shigeru Umebayashi - Lovers (score for the majestic movie "House of Flying Daggers")

Joe Hisaishi - "Feel"  (score for the meditative movie "Dolls")

Day 1: The Rendezvous

Imagine a vertical line. Then imagine two spots marked by the words “Earth” and “Heaven” standing at the opposite ends. The big black line connects the opposing ends in one continuous stream, so as to establish cooperation between these contrasts or to turn their contradiction into a constant.
Cooperation or contradiction, whatever may be the result, one thing is for certain: this line is not a line which marks the distinction, but rather a symbol of the unison. There is not a single dot on this line where one can draw a new line in order to set a border. On the contrary, there is perpetual streaming of dots along this line, running between the states of the Profane and the Profound, the Mundane and the Magnificent.
I imagine this line to be the path which brings the Heaven on Earth, or lifts the Earth to the Seventh Heaven. I imagine it as a trajectory which marks all rendezvous between the Earth and the Heaven and all births of the moments of bliss. In conclusion, it is the voyage that matters, not it’s ending. There is not one single end which could justify any mean whatsoever. All we ever wanted, could be found along our life-path.

Day 4: When Earth flirts with Heaven...birth to single Angel is given

If a given moment of our life-journey is marked by earthly matters, then all that matters is that single Angel singing in the background. This is to say that even in the presence of difficulties we are not devoid of divinities. All we need is fine tuning and we could easily get in tune with them. Speaking of tuning, I offer my favourites tunes at disposal:

Internationally acclaimed child’s song from children’s book for adults - "Pres d’elle" (Jeff)

Nationally acclaimed child’s song for the child in all adults - “Bombonche” (Kostadin Buloski)

Bonus track from a grownup child - "Jelena i Jovana" (Djordje Balashevich)

Day 7: When Heaven flirts with Earth...choir of Angels mark their birth

If a given moment of our journey is marked by heavenly matters, then they are the ones that really matter...and the choir of Angels, singing in the background:

"Caresse sur l'ocean" (Les Choristes)

"Sanctus" (Libera)

Day 1: In Motion Pictures

There are two ways to regard a movie:
1. As a fiction about fiction (about a fiction…) 
2. As a truth of someone’s truth (about a truth…)
Each point of view fits into one unifying overview. In essence – recursion is a movie's essence. So, when someone tries to insert recursion within a movie, he basically tries to hit its essence in the very core. If he succeeds - marvel will be born: a structure made of pictures moving one after the other, one into the other, one inside the others. The magnificence of the created art has as many levels/layers as the recursion itself - it can easily dwell well into infinity.

There are two movie-makers who have the will/skill to create recursive magic:
1. Charlie Kaufman signed three important screenplays that fit into this category:
“Being John Malkovich” (about the experience of experiencing someone, while he is experiencing you experiencing him and so on), “Adaptation” (about a screenwriter, writing about a screenwriter who is writing an adaptation of a book) and “Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind”. The last one is my personal favorite because it represents a fresh take on the ideas about soul-mates and destined love. In this movie, a couple, Joel and Clementine, undergoes procedure to erase all memories regarding the other, but the results are surprising. Is it our neural hardwiring the reason why we are constantly drawn to the one and a same person, over and again? Or, maybe it is the irreversible rewiring which happens after each encounter and is constantly bringing same encounters with the same person on our way? This movie is highly recommended because of its unique way in posing the right questions, regardless of the answers.
2. Christofer Nolan also signed three screenplays tackling the recursion in a very intricate manner:
“Following” (about a guy following people, who is followed by a girl, who…), “Memento” (about a guy with a short-term memory loss, who invents a strategy for recalling his memories but ends-up in recalling about recalling about recalling…) and “Inception”. The last movie is fantastic product, enthralling, enchanting, exciting, enticing… it speaks about the reality of dreams, but opens many possibilities along the way. Written by a skilled linguist, the movie also offers fair amount of wordplay because it converts some metaphorical proverbs into literal scenarios (about the state of living in a dream). In addition, I will copy the opening lines with hopes that they will open the path to the movie:
“What’s the most resilient parasite? An idea. Resilient, highly contagious. Once an idea’s taken hold in the brain it’s almost impossible to eradicate. A person can cover it up, ignore it - but it stays there.”

Day 4: In Still Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a recursive picture can picture the impossible: the vast universe filled with words. Needless to say, I will skip all words except those related to the master of all masters:  M.C. Escher and his works ("Bond of Union" as ultimately romantic and "Hands" as ultimately idealistic piece of art).

Day 7: In Music

"What makes this canon ('Canon per tonos' by Bach) different from any other, however, is that when it concludes - or, rather, seems to conclude - it is no longer in the key of C minor, but now is in D minor. Somehow Bach has contrived to modulate (change keys) right under the listener's nose. And it is so constructed that this 'ending' ties smoothly onto the beginning again; thus one can repeat the process and return in the key of E, only to join again to the beginning. These successive modulations lead the ear to increasingly remote provinces of tonality, so that after several of them, one would expect to be hopelessly far away from the starting key. And yet magically, after exactly six suchmodulations, the original key of C minor has been restored!"

Douglas Hofstadter

 

When deciding upon recursive representatives in music, Bach would be the most logical choice, with his techniques of including loops inside his musical offerings. However, I opted for more exotic melodies, based on somewhat exotic criteria. Namely, I chose to enlist melodies which never fail to give an impression of never-ending and ever-rising songs. Regardless of the technique used.

"Saltarello" by Dead Can Dance:

Based upon Italian medieval court and folk song.

"Boléro" by Maurice Ravel

Based upon Latin folk songs from the 18th century.

Day 1: In Poetry

'I saw you take his kiss!' 'Tis true.'
'O, modesty!' 'Twas strictly kept:
He thought me asleep; at least I knew

He thought I thought He thought I slept.'

                                                  "The Kiss" by Coventry Patmore

Day 4: In Prose

"The lake was silent for some time. Finally it said:
'I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected.'”

Paulo Coelho

 

Of all brain-teasers that my father used in order to amuse me, one was particularly striking. Its strength lies in its simplicity and the story goes like this: “Once there lived a man who had a dog, so when the pet died he wrote on the graveyard: Once there lived a man who had a dog, so when the pet died he wrote on the graveyard: Once there lived”…

To the very day, I remain fascinated by the perfect paradox explained perfectly by the recursion itself: an end inviting a new beginning, which leads to an end inviting a new beginning and so on. It is enclosure which remains unclosed, an encircled story which spirals into infinity.

One may think that recursion is redundant rather than riveting and one may be right. When the word “recursion” is approached in a very specific manner, then it remains narrow despite the vast infinity. On the other hand, when the word “recursive” is approached in a general manner, then the vastness could never be narrowed down to a repetitive structure.

Day 7: In Cognitive Science and Conversation

I find the “Theory of mind” to be a perfect fit for my general understanding of all things recursive. It is a theory used in cognitive sciences in order to understand the mental states of the others. Basically it is an ability to attribute mental states (desires, beliefs, intentions) to the others, presuming that they may differ from one’s own. It was very useful in defining social neuroscience and differentiating autism-spectrum disorders.
Again, I find this theory fascinating as much as my childhood story, because of its paradoxisity and recursivness. The paradox lies in the fact that one tries to be objective about the other by using one’s own subjective experiences. The recursivness occurs when the other also uses theory of mind in order to understand his counterpart. The moment when both counterparts use theory of mind in order to complement and compliment each other, I consider to be the moment when the beauty is born.

In this style of conversation there are infinite possibilities. One can use analogies and allegories which could open further possibilities for interpretation, widen the scope of interrelation and deepen the interaction. And the interest remains aroused, on so many levels, in so many ways, on and on and on...

Day 1: Fly Far Fair Firefly!

"Flee fast from fearsome Furies,
Using flames to fume and fry,
All fleeting fleas and flies!

Fare along firm friend Fairies
Using flames to set on fire,
All your favorite flyers!"

                              from "Word-Wound-Web", Biljana Gjoneska

Day 4: Light-Traces

"Long after the firefly disappeared, the traces of its light remained within me. In the thick dark behind my closed eyes that faint light, like some lost wandering spirit, continued to roam.

Again and again I stretched my hand out toward that darkness. But my fingers felt nothing. That tiny glow was always just out of reach".

                              from "Firefly", Haruki Murakami

Day 7: Chasing a Firefly

The discovery of a single firefly is equal to the discovery of electricity.
Both phenomena glow on the face, send shivers down the spine, keep warm the heart. 

That’s why finding a firefly is a mere miracle. One can spend an eternity and beyond, reaching the far ends and beyond, and still end-up empty-handed, empty-headed, empty-hearted. These creatures are totally mind-blowing with their body-glowing, so our inability to see them seems rather strange. The difficulty is of a peculiar nature, since the very nature obeys the will of these peculiar creatures and hides them when they want to remain hidden. The far greater difficulty arises when they decide to appear for a change and provoke an instant chase.

I’ve heard that Tuscany region is a rich well of fireflies in which they dwell upon early summer. I, being enchanted by one, decided to set upon a quest and find reminders of my firefly in these enchanting insects. I figured that a chant holding the same qualities as fire, should surprise and entice them.

So, I will sing fiery songs that glow on the face, send shivers down the spine, keep warm the heart:
“Fire with Fire” – Scissors Sisters
“Set Fire to the Rain” – Adele
“Set the Fire to the Third Bar” – Snow Patrol

And one special faery-fairy chant for fireflies:

"Fireflies" - Owl City

Sing along with me and enjoy!

Day 1: Three Trees

It is a fact: Humans erect the Cities and the Cities should raise the Humankind in return.
The figures to support this fact are numerous, but the city-symbols hold sovereign position in the personal list of figures because of their unique ability to offer understanding about its creators - the humans themselves. It seems that the older the city is - the more universal its symbols are. So, the city as old as the mankind should inhold symbols bound to our collective unconscious - the archetypes.

It seems fairly reasonable in the city called “Caput Mundi” (the world’s capital e.g. Rome) which holds the “Umbilicus Urbis” (the naval of the urban life e.g. the Roman Forum) to search for the “Axis Mundi” (the world’s axis e.g. the tree of life).

The Tree is an archetypical symbol and as such it is widely used in all domains of life, from science to religion, from arts to culture. So, the task to cover the tree as a symbol seems arduous to the extent of suffering. Therefore I narrowed the selection, excluding the tree as a scheme of concrete and tangible concepts, and concentrated on the three trees which are a symbol of abstract, ethereal concepts, as well as inspiration of artistic masterpieces.

Day 3: Tree of Knowledge

The process of selecting cardinal symbol, was mediated through the selection of personal symbols.

Personal symbols are the following cues: University of Sapienza (as a school of choice), Homo Sapiens (as an interest), Human Sapience (as a study of choice).
Therefore, personal symbols should yield the following clues: Masterpiece by an Italian Master, mastering his knowledge of art through the subject of knowledge itself.

The Masterpiece is known as Sistine Chapel in Rome, the Italian Master is better known as Michelangelo Bunarroti, and the subject is “The Tree of Knowledge”. Origin of this story is old as the time itself, so I would skip the introduction and stick to my personal interpretation given in one sentence only:

 Ignorance is bliss

Source: Wikimedia

 

Day 5: Tree of Forgiveness

Moving away from the Leader to his Followers, one has to follow the line of Pre-Raphaelites, so the following passages will describe their work on the given topic.
"The Tree of Forgiveness" by Edward Burne-Jones, borrows the story from Greek mithology of young Phyllis who married Demophon, king of Athens. They loved each other, but were separated and the weight of the physical distance took its toll in one story with twists and turns and concludes eventually with a happy resolution.

So where does the part with the tree comes in this story? One has to read it in order to reveal it, but my interpretation is yet again simple:

The tree-symbol is a powerful portrayal of the pain-potential. Sweet suffering for someone, somewhere, far away.
Yearning, so alive – it numbs one out. Yearning, so in bloom – it drains one out. One is left to vegetate. Just like a tree.

Source: Wikimedia

Day 7: Tree of Seclusion

Yet another representative of Pre-Raphaelite movement (John William Waterhouse), inspired by yet another Greek myth  (Apollo and Daphne). This myth is a motif in so many art-works:
- His marble equivalent (sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini) is believed to be finest artistry of dynamic sculptures as compared to its predecessors (the ‘Rape of Sabine Women’ and ‘Rape of Prosepina’).
- Some believe, that “The Kiss” (by Gustav Klimt)  is a more modern equivalent of the Greek myth.  
As for the interpretation of the story, I would be very courageous and suggest a very curious ending:

As much as it can serve as metaphor for evasion and seclusion, the tree can equally represent a metaphor for happy conclusion. Indeed, there seldom has been greater metaphor for bonding then the image of branches and ruts intertwined, interlaced, intermingled, interconnected...Caught one into other in endless interaction.

Source: Wikimedia

 

Day 1: Summary through Variations

 

"Piano" (ENG, noun) = "Instrument"

As in soul of the music and the music of all souls
(Credits to the movie "The Legend of 1900" by Giuseppe Tornatore)

"Piano" (IT, noun)  = "Level"

As in higher level of consciousness and a conscious upraise
(Credits to the song “Primavera” by Ludovico Einaudi)

"Piano" (FR, adjective) = "Gently"

As in a soothing lullaby and lulling sooth
(Credits to the song “Un papillon sur ton épaule” by Mark Pinkus)

"Пијано" (MK, adjective) = "Drunk"

As in intoxication with beauty and the state of beautiful bliss
(Credits to the movie “Piano” by Jane Campion)

 

 

Day 4: The Summary

Passage: While visiting Bologna for purpose of scientific enlightenment, I became a subject of a small spiritual enlightenment. In the cloister of a miraculous complex Santo Stefano, another miracle was waiting to happen. Taken aback by the churches which weaved and interlaced with each other, I was looking for a place where I could absorb the beauty and found the perfect spot with the right help of my piano. Sudden sounds from Einaudi’s songs filled the empty cloister, followed by Yiruma and Jane Campion, in fact most of the pieces mentioned above. Notes were poured from the fingers of some monk who was playing in his cellar at the basement. I thought how his playing is a perfect passage into this summary.

Plot: The piano was born when Bartolomeo Cristofori set upon a quest to discover new modalities and to add one essential quality to the existing instruments – the capability to play soft (“piano”) and strong (“forte”). So, new instrument was created - one which combines the rhythm, the color and the pitch of the produced sounds.

It is an instrument which produces melodic prosody and shapes the melody into a beaming stream of sounds. Much alike the human voice. Indeed, to the very day, pianoforte remains gifted storyteller. It has the gift of sight (to foresee into one’s past and future) and a gift of voice (to transform its knowledge into music). So, it dwells into the life of each and every finger as if each and every one of them is a confident singer. There are stories about all fingers: the one which was caressed and one which was kissed and blessed; the one which was punished and the one which was cherished. And the story is channeled through the music.
Sometimes, someone could decide to tell the story about the music and thus opens a new circle into the eternity.
The selection of the most beautiful musical stories will follow.

 

 

Day 7: The Variations

1. Immortal Beloved                                      (1994)

2, The Piano                                                    (1993)

3. The Legend of 1900                                    (1998)

4. Amadeus                                                     (1984)

5. Copying Beethoven                                    (2006)

6. Chopin: Desire for Love                             (2002)

7. Glass: A Portrait of Philip in 12 Parts     (2002)

8. Shine                                                              (1996)

9. The Pianist                                                    (2002)

10. The Piano Teacher                                    (2001)

11. Four Minutes                                              (2004)

12. The Beat That My Heart Skipped             (2005)

13.     Canone Inverso – Making Love               (2000)

14. Beseiged                                                        (1998)

 

 

Day 1: Inspiration

I and Agostino Chigi (late nobleman), have had the same inspiration: a certain woman.
She inspired him to congregate many genius painters of his time, in order to concentrate the beauty of art and the glory of love in one place. Villa Farnesina offers voluptuous eruptions of love, starting with Amor and Psyche, ending with Alexander the Great and Roxana. They explode before the eyes and implode within the heart.

Poor heart, what can it do, but burst into fits of joy and inspiration?

The stories about women-wonders, femme-fatales much greater than the courtesan who inspired the beginning of this story, seem eager to be unfolded.

 

Day 3: Explanation                                                      

These special species, these creative creatures, are but a woman in a literal meaning of the word. Destined to live the destiny of their names to the fullest, these “WoMen” bind the male and female principle in a perfect unison. The rest is history: as in all holy matrimonies between matching male and female, a miracle is born to combine the fluctuations between two extremes in perfect balance and harmony. Being sensitive to the utmost, almost neurotic in their fragility, they are still fearless and brave in their persistence and stability.

The results are impressive: these women go at any length and against all odds to defy all boundaries. They defy the distance gravity (as in the story of Roxana from Persia and Alexander from Macedonia) and even the problem of time and immortality (perfectly illustrated with the story of Amor the God and the mortal Psyche).
However, their greatest achievement for which they are proclaimed immortal by the history is the following: Their mastery over their own thoughts.

Namely, mortal women always tend to follow their thoughts as they surrender to a specific man. Their thoughts travel in order to cover great distances and once they reach the desired destination, they start snuggling, cuddling and huddling with all of their fantasies and live the life of the utmost commodity and abundance. This is not the case with the immortal women. They have a tendency to whip their thoughts, to unleash and restrain them in unkind turbulent cycles, so that in the end, others send their thoughts to them. Indeed, they were mentioned in the thoughts of many a great man which is unprecedented phenomenon.

There have been quite a few Casanova's and Don Juan's, who captured the souls and thoughts of many beauties, throughout the history. But a man who inspired many a great woman, a man who captured the thoughts of these captivating creatures, still remains a mystery.

For more tangible picture, the illustration will follow.

 

Day 5: The Icons                                                        

Lou Andreas-Salome

Avid scholar, prolific writer, incisive psychoanalyst. Respected by Freud (for her essay on the anal-erotic), admired by Nietzsche, both professionally (for her work "Hymn to Life") and personally (for the unrequited love), adored by much younger Rilke (for inspiration and passion she infused into his works and life).

Alma Mahler

Composer and Cultural icon. Gifted, but also a gift herself (for composer Gustav Mahler). A talent, who inspired another talent (in writer Franz Werfel). A flame that instigated fire (in painter Oskar Kokoschka).

Clara Schumann

Distinguished musician and professional pianist. Independent and free-spirited. Respected by the most respectful composers of the Romantic era. Loved by the husband Robert Schumann. Admired by the much younger, lifelong companion Johannes Brahms.

 

Day 7: Personal Favorites                                        

Marie Curie

Revolutionary scientist, destined to break the existing conventions in the world of science with her ground-breaking discoveries. She was first female scholar to receive professorship at the University of Paris, first female researcher to receive the Nobel Prize, and a first double Nobel Laureate in two basic scientific disciplines, chemistry and physics.
Privately, she influenced the lives of very influential scientists: the famous Polish mathematician Kazimierz Żorawski, the renowned physicist Paul Langevin, and her husband’s, the physicist Pierre Curie.

 

Despina Kavaeva  [ EXCERPTS]
• Note: The choice is both, unconventional and emotional. Namely, the recent celebration of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, in the heart of Cyril’s hearth (Basilica of San Clemente) raised my awareness about all Slavic missionaries and Despina Kavaeva was certainly one of them.

A woman of great erudition, it is said that she knew over 150 songs by heart and contributed all of them to the famous collection of songs of Brother Miladinov. Born and raised in Struga, she belonged to the Macedonian intellectual elite, interacting with important figures, one of whom, the award-winning writer Gligor Prlichev. She touched his life profoundly and was the inspiration for the character of Maria in the famous poem “O Armatolos”.
She is exceptional in many regards, even within the selected group of women. Namely, she proved dedicated to her call and devoted to one single man, but remained completely independent choosing the secluded live of the monastery.

 

Day 1: Description in words

…"For several moments, I would experience such joy as would be inconceivable in ordinary life - such joy that no one else could have any notion of. I would feel the most complete harmony in myself and in the whole world and this feeling was so strong and sweet that for a few seconds of such bliss I would give ten or more years of my life, even my whole life perhaps"…

(Fyodor Dostoevsky)

… ”Everything becomes supernormal… you are so excited with the possibility of what you can do in this world, with your creative power, with your entrepreneurial ideas, your grandiosity knows no bounds. It’s an extraordinary feeling”…

(Stephen Fry)

Day 3: Explanation in words

These explanations are given for the euphoric experiences during episodes of “ecstatic aura” (preceding epilepsy seizures) and for manic episodes (in bipolar disorder), respectively. Euphoria could also be experienced during: spring (in the seasonal affective disorder), surge of thyroid hormone (in hyperthyroidism), or analeptic neurotransmitters (in external administration of psycho-stimulant drugs).

...

Therefore, one could ask oneself:
Is euphoria an island of insanity in our struggle for sanity? Or
Is euphoria an oasis of sanity in the struggles with our insanity?

Either way it is a divine experience. Privileged are those who are able to experience it. Blessed are those who are capable to describe it. Immortal are those who are capable to induce it. Thorugh words or notes.

 

Day 5: Description in notes

Three melodies and one title to describe them all:
“Uniform Euphoria”

One triplet, described by three adjectives:
“Classic, Constant, Consistent”

The playlist:
Tchaikovsky. Piano Concerto №1. Third Movement.
Dvořák. Symphony №9. Fourth Movement.
Beethoven, Symphony № 9. Fourth Movement.

I firmly believe that the following are the classic examples - constant and consistent in their potency to evoke unprovoked euphoria.

Enjoy the ride! Reach the high of the heights!

 

Day 7: Explanation in notes and words

This section refers to the songs with lyrics.
This selection will refer to differing songs in order to offer similar categories.

First category: “Furious Euphoria”
It’s because of the harp’s edginess – their beautiful transformation from mild into sharp and crisp instruments.
It’s because of the word’s meanings – the dark gothic lyrics which reflect light breezy feelings.
It's because of the beautiful metamorphosis of words and sounds, which ultimately lead to metamorphosis of one’s state of mind. It simply is ‘Florence and the Machine’ at their best.

Last category: “Euphemistic Euphoria”
It’s because of the genre – general enough to be uplifting for the masses, peculiar enough to be appealing for individuals.
It’s because of the voice - perfect blend between popular Tony Braxton and peculiar Ofra Haza.
It’s because of the lyrics – general enough to provoke smile, specific enough to provoke laughter.
It’s “Euphoria” (“everlasting piece of art”) and Loreen.