A modern masterpiece.

From the age of five I have played and studied music, most of which would be considered classical music. Although I was made to learn, recognise, analyse and discuss a plethora of pieces by an innumerable amount of composers, well-known and otherwise, I was never a fan of this particular music. Classical music gave me a headache.
In more recent times I have had an ever increasing admiration for the music scored for film, also known as soundtracks. I'm not talking about films like Bridget Jones' Diary using songs like 'All by myself' (an already famous pop song). I'm referring to the enigmatic film scores that are crafted specifically for use in films. It is these pieces that I would refer to as the masterpieces of our time. In the previous centuries, it was the likes of Mozart, Vivaldi, Bach etc that produced the pièce de résistance of their time, however with the technological boom of the 20th Century it was only natural that the world of music would also be revolutionised.
The production of masterpieces has now been left up to brilliance of Hans Zimmer, Harry Gregson-Williams, Rachel Portman, Gustavo Santaolalla, James Horner, Thomas Newman, Yann Tiersen.


A few soundtracks you simply must hear:
- The last Samurai

- Man on Fire
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- The Motorcycle Diaries
- Batman Begins
- Avatar
- Chocolat
- Amélie & Goodbye Lenin

Of course, watch the films while you're at it :)

What influences you?

A really interesting video talking about what makes someone/something an 'influencer'.

INFLUENCERS FULL VERSION (FR) from R+I creative on Vimeo.

(Re-post from a friend's blog.)

"I wish that I was born a thousand years ago

I wish that I'd sailed the darkened seas

On a great big clipper ship

Going from this land here to that

Ah, in a sailor's suit and cap

Away from the big city

Where a man can not be free

Of all of the evils of this town

And of himself, and those around"

Velvet Underground -Heroin

Image: Source

Music has a certain power, it is inexplainable and affects everybody in their own way. The significance that this form of art has on me is immeasurable. Not only that, but I feel that no matter how much I say or write my words are inadequate to explain it in a way that does it justice. Having been surrounded in music from a very young age via the piano and various other instruments its really brings joy to my heart seeing the genuine musical abilities of those around me.

An example of such soul-stirring music is by a friend of mine, Arlen Yanch, whom I met whilst serving at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Not only is his an incredible pianist, but the compositions linked below (click the photo) are just incredible!

"The art of music is divine and effective. It is the food of the soul and spirit.

Through the power and charm of music the spirit of man is uplifted."

- A Compilation on Baha'i Education, Pages 56-57

Laundromat-o-mine

[This post has been published a year later than planned]

Who would've have thought doing my laundry would always be such an adventure?

Once a week (or perhaps a stretch more) I lugged my basket down the windy path through the snow-blanketed Kapelvej courtyard, across the street, making my way to my laundromat. Each time I am greeted by a different encounter. But the one that I will never forget is the one that happened most recently. Usually there are a couple of people in there, Danish, Middle Eastern, Northern African for the most part. The Danes do their part as the non-involved/ head down/ don't acknowledge your existence character. The Middle Eastern is usually a covered woman with several children running around and the Northern African steals glances at you when they think you're not looking.

Why am I talking about this?

When I was there yesterday, I must have given the impression that I was lost or didn't know how to operate the machines - its been a few months, I have it down pat. But this sweet lady, I think she was Iraqi, came and tried to explain it to me. She didn't understand English, I don't understand Arabic, and neither of us spoke a word of Danish. And yet she was so determined to teach me. In the midst of the chaos her children were causing, she managed, by speaking loudly, repeating the same Arabic sentences over and again, with dramatic hand gestures to get her message across. And after all her much appreciated efforts, all I could say in response was "Tak" (Thank you in Danish). She gave me the most warm-hearted smile I have ever gotten and then turned away, told off her children and continued on with her mountain load of washing. I never saw her again.

On the walk back to my flat, trudging through the snow in my chucks (not advisable), I found myself thinking about how different that could have been if we spoke the same language. Maybe she wasn't just talking about how to turn the dryer on. Maybe we could've had a few laughs and she could've told me some thing about her life and me about mine. Not this time Natasha, you can't be friends with everyone.

In all my travels over the past few months it couldn't be more blatantly clear how important language is in all our interactions with other humans and the urgent need for a universal language. Perhaps this is too big an ask for the time being. There are a lot of other pressing matters in the world at current that take precedence over address this social barrier for now but I think its certainly something that deserves more thought. It would certainly remove the issue of communication being lost in translation..