Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Music

For people who love M.I.A. but are dying for a new album, I would try first Sleigh Bells [like their song Crown on the Ground] and then some of Kanye West's pieces and the remixes/mashups.
In general, mashups are a great source of songs for M.I.A.-style music lovers. Kanye in particular has many songs that naturally approach a type of mashup level in complexity and artistry. His piece Dark Fantasy is one, as is Blood on the Leaves and Stronger.

A very long, almost half an hour piece mixing Kanye's music is the Mega mix which is really absorbing. It's a great mix of beats and his songs.

Like M.I.A.'s music, these songs have a natural rhythmic progression that is very involving and great to listen to. For fun, try the Kanye Christmas album, a hilarious rerecording of his latest album Yeezus. The word substitutions are really fun and it's so creative.

There's a neat Yeezus mashup of the whole album into one single piece here, which is really nice.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Dance

If you're interested in Cambodia, Khmer/Cambodian traditional dance or the Khmer Rouge period, be sure to watch HRH Princess Norodom Buppha Devi's interview on Cambodian dance. She was chosen by the famous French film director Marcel Camus to dance in his film 'L'oiseau de paradis' [1962], also called 'Bird of Paradise' or 'Dragon Sky' in English, or 'Baksey Thansua'.

There is also an interview with Sim Muntha about the costumes in Camus' film on the NYPL archive.

The photo below shows her dancing in a more ornate costume than she does in the movie Apsara [1966]. Here is more information on her work to preserve and enshrine Cambodian dance.


Sunday, December 14, 2014

Art

If you love Cambodia, Khmer ancient art or Angkor Wat -- or the Tomb Raider films with Angelina Jolie -- be sure to read the excellent art record of Angkor Wat from 1927. A 23 year old French girl in Cambodia recorded in clear drawings many of the female spirits/nymphs [called 'devatas' by the French at the time or more commonly 'apsaraSanskrit: अप्सरा] carved on the walls. It's an incredible book, with so many drawings and details it could be used by a film costumer to get a project started.

The book is called Khmer Costumes and Ornaments of the Devatas of Angkor Wat by Sappho Marchal. Below is a typical photograph of Angkor Wat, the enormous complex of stone temples and buildings in Cambodia [it's even represented on the country's flag].

A fun little film about Khmer ancient myths [in this case of Preah Thong [also named King Kaundinya I] and his eventual wife the minor goddess/naga Neang Neak [also named Soma] is Pras Toung Neang Neak. To try Cambodian traditional dance, revived in the mid-1900s by Princess Bopa Devi, watch the long dance performance of Preah Thong Neang Neak.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Kali

This Bengali woodcut of Ma Kali, the Hindu goddess, by the 19th century artist Sri Hemchandra is quite incredible [there are tons more pieces of art on Kali here]. Kālikā (Sanskrit: कालिका) is associated with empowerment, called shakti. She is the fierce aspect of the goddess Durga.


Snow

This painting 'Winter landscape with a church' by German Romantic painter of landscapes, Caspar David Friedrich [1774-1840] seems apt as we move into December. The brooding romantics often appeal to fans of Poe and the gothic. Try Friedrich's 'Cemetery entrance' as well, it's a great painting. There's often a sense of the 'wild' in nature, of how vast the world is and our insignificant we are, in Romantic artwork. It's something that not all Romantic verse and literature captures, it's unique.


Art

For incredible Hindu artwork/paintings, be sure to look at the amazing image collection at MagicTransistor. The pieces are unique and fascinating. It's a truly awe-inspiring group of images; there's a piece on every figure and deity that draws you in, even if they weren't one you were interested in or felt a connection to.

Recently, cranberry-raisin cookies have been all the rage around here, as has Bvlgari's The Rouge perfume [this is their Fragrantica review collection]. As a big perfume blog reader, I find it strange that our senses of smell may truly be different--what an odd thing to contemplate. Oddly I am more open to the idea that many people see colors differently.

Fun

Great places to look at the art of Hinduism and India in general is ExoticIndiaArt. You could spend forever simply browsing and being exposed to amazing pieces of art.

Lana del Rey's song 'Queen of Disaster' seems perfect for this time of year, for some reason. It's such an enjoyable song, especially for people who like her faster-paced songs. FKA Twigs' has a great song in 'Numbers'.

Also, the French-Canadian group Ibeyi is a really interesting musically, and enjoyable; their piece 'Oya' is an amazing, moving song. It's the type of stuff I want to read reviews of on Pitchfork. Too often I try songs recommended and find them kitschy and silly-sounding, not moving.

World music is something that is an ocean of undiscovered love. The famous writer Paul Bowles recorded intense, incredible music in rural Morocco for the Library of Congress try this piece here or here's some non-Bowles Moroccan drums piece that are great--the music truly is incredible. Try any of the Sublime Frequencies recordings of music from AlgeriaSumatra or Java or my favorite, Morocco.

The huge perfume selection at Possets is literally ruining my life. I need to try 'Blue Danube' and 'Black Tea', and a million other scents. I'm obsessed with the 'black spruce' pine solid perfume at LVNEA--it's from Montreal and amazing. I mean they have 'Mourning Ritual' and 'Ghost Pine', 'Desert Night' and 'Black Sea'. It makes you think of Poe and Welcome to Nightvale at the same time, but make no mistake, these are serious scents for people who love perfume.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Tv

If you like The Great Gatsby, Nero Wolfe, or Boardwalk Empire, be sure to try Miss Fisher's Mysteries, a '20s period piece with a female detective. It's quite fun and is streaming on Netflix -- and there are books to read if you prefer, all by Kerry Greenwood. If you enjoy jazz or 1920s music, you'll love their scores: there are THREE soundtracks so far! All on itunes.

To see stills and gifs from the series look at MissFisher'sMurderMysteries, for photos see too MissFisher'sCaps.

Be sure NOT to watch the pilot episode first, which is more 'cute and quirky' than the rest of the 2 seasons of the series. I prefer the other episodes to the first. Miss Fisher is a fun, moving series with a great sensibility and great love stories, as well as a type of modern, Bechdel test passing quality that many people will enjoy. There is a broad spectrum of characters, it's not just flappers only. The quality of 1920s fashion in the show is great and really fun -- the costumes are truly a cut above, quite beautiful.


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Interstellar

Nolan did it again, with his great film Interstellar. It's both visually amazing and exciting, with a lot of emotional, moving scenes. The ideas about physics and quantum concepts were amazing, and really spark you to learn more. Read NolanFans if you enjoy his work, there are reviews and forums, and great fan art.

The Interstellar film score is great -- and also if you like Zimmer or film soundtracks, be sure to listen to the live, orchestra versions that are often online, like Zimmer's Inception score live concert here and Michael Giacchino's Star Trek reboot track 'Enterprising young men' here.


India

Some great places to see photos of India are IndiaIncredible and Vintage India [for older photos, this is a great one]. Here are some Sept. 2014 Bollywood songs, always fun to listen to and see if any favorites emerge, and the excellent song collection here to try--including the opening 2014 song Devil's 'Yaar Naa Miley' and the famous, fast older 'Munni Badnam' at min. mark 8:41, and at mark 17:36 is the very infamous, lively older song 'Sheila Ki Jawaani'.

For older, more traditional music try Anoushka Shankar - Indian Classical Raga.

The image below is Vinayaka [another name for Ganesha, with his elephant head is in the center] with his consorts in the temple, from a book by P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar (from 1920), South Indian shrines: illustrated. [On wiki images]


Music

Some great recent mashups are Ariana Grande x Ciara - Problem Yeah I Know (Mashup) (Feat Iggy Azalea) and Bang Bang vs. Shake It Off (Mashup) - Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj & Taylor Swift.

There's also the great Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX vs. Britney Spears - "Fancy One More Time" (Mashup).

The Interstellar score by Hans Zimmer is also excellent, but be sure to hear it first with the incredible images of hurtling through space in the film--try 'Day one dark' for a sense of the haunting, atmospheric terror. It's almost like an intellectual, complex, esoteric, humanity/Carl Jung-focused version of Silent Hill. Many people have enjoyed the great song featured in the Exodus film trailer, Sydney Wayser's 'Belfast Child', it's quite moving.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Costume

One great painting is "Pierrette" by Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta, a Spanish realist painter (1841-1920)--the title is the feminine form of 'pierrot', the famous regular character in the Commedia dell'Arte's early theater:


Sunday, October 12, 2014

Mozartian scores

David Buckley's score for the tv show The Good Wife is a score to check out if you like 'refined-lively' or classical-esque soundtracks. His piece "Countdown to Execution" is intense, and builds and builds even in the moments that you at first feel are simply a slower pause.

The piece "Waiting Room Rondo" is just excellent, and would appeal to anyone that loves Mozart's light work. It's really enchanting.

For a more somber, sad and moving moment, his track "Alicia Reflects" has a great moment at 1:41 and after.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Fall

There are so many things to pack into the fall season--planning out what to try for Thanksgiving, trying candy apples, apple cider, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, enjoying the leaves up in New England in the USA. Be sure to schedule everything in and do everything at least once! The cover illustration is by Rea Irwin. 


Monday, September 8, 2014

Driving Music

Some modern stuff to try is Ladytron's great piece "Tomorrow" or "Ghosts" [especially for people who like First Aid Kit, Lana del Rey or The Capricorns] and Trap Nation's "Delay Remix of Black Widow by Iggy Azalea & Rita Ora".

If you prefer medieval or Renaissance music, or just want to try some, listen to "Songs and Dances from The Flemish Renaissance". It's great in the car or as a lovely counterpoint to listen to, in silence or in the background.

Renaissance

Bellini's [1430-1516] painting "Madonna in trono col Bambino e santi detta pala di San Giobbe" [The Madonna enthroned with Child and saints of the Saint Job Palace] from c. 1497 is a great, exceptional Renaissance work. It's one of the best pieces with a lower profile than many other famous works. Look at that ceiling [with gold mosaic old-style angel depictions [ie just a head and many wings], and all the saints, including Sebastian [unclothed and hit with arrows]. Even the throne for Mary is quite interesting, as are the cute little bottom angels playing instruments.


Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Relaxing

One great piece to try that includes both flute and harpsichord is German Baroque composer Telemann's [1681-1767] Nouveaux Quatuors Parisiens no. 6 - Modéré performed by a great group [be sure to listen to more of their work here: Nevermind, ie. try the slow and lovely "La Cupis" by J.P. Rameau] of Anna Besson, Louis Creac'h, Robin Pharo and Jean Rondeau on flute, violin, viola and harpsichord respectively.

Actually, if you prefer gothic, Symbolist style music instead of Baroque, try the cd Rachmaninov Songs, the piece "Vocalise [op. 34, no. 14]" performed by Joan Rodgers & Howard Shelley. Rachmaninoff [many spellings happen due to transliterating] was a famous Russian composer [1873-1943] who wrote a lot of moody, emotive, gothic E.A. Poe style music.

Many people decompress by watching dramas--the urgency and shocks onscreen put everything into perspective for you, making you feel better about whatever annoyances and worries you face. One such tv series is The Good Wife. It has become so much more than its original premise that I only wish they would alter the title to reflect it--it's one of the most moving and wrenching shows of the decade. It's very mature, and very philosophical; no one gets away free or clean. Everyone is faced with reality, the truth: of hard choices, of no answers, of no solutions or balms.

It's the new must watch, gripping show, much like True Detective was. And similarly, at first many people didn't see how incredible both were going to be. They could have slid off the rails early on, but didn't, they just exponentially grew in genius.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Trips

In America it is sometimes easy to overlook our own country for Europe. There are a host of natural wonders here, however, from North Carolina's Black River [with moss-covered cypress trees looming everywhere, for the spooky and gothic among us] to Maine's Acadia National Park. And of course there's Boston's art museums and Italian palazzo [housing a public library collection].

New York City too has unique places by the dozens, as does nearby Montreal. Don't forget to check out local food festivals, cultural celebrations, Oktoberfests and Scottish games. It's easy to focus on distant locales and miss out on regional extravaganzas.


Food

Food is very personal and subject to time period and culture, region. Still, one can venture out and try some simple sushi, some poutine, some mango bubble tea. Two things to potentially try are falafel and almond marzipan horns [they look like horseshoes].

Falafel mix [the ground chickpeas already mixed with spices] is often in the imported food section of grocery stores, and can come from many countries. It's easy to simply bake it all in a pan instead of frying it. Falafel is a great way to add both spicy food and vegetables into your meals, and you can eat it with cucumber slices and some yogurt or sauce to balance out the spiciness. People who don't like the typical blandness of vegetables will love it.

Another interesting world cuisine find is Germanic/Bavarian almond horns. They are covered in sliced almonds and are made of marzipan in a type of almond cookie result. If you like red Italian almond cookies [shaped like a circle with a little cherry in the middle sometimes], try these. They are easy to find in local bakeries, give them a search. You may have already tried them at area Oktoberfests.


Harp

Be sure to try some harp music, especially as it is sometimes underrepresented in classical music. A good place to start is the classic and beautiful "Concerto No. 6 for Harp and Orchestra, op. 9" by Jean-Baptiste Krumpholtz [1742-1790]. He was an important Czech composer and harpist. He played all over Europe and in Hungary.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Art

There are often classic artists that Westerners still haven't been truly exposed to. One such painter is Mikhail Nesterov [М. Нестеровой] [1862-1942], a famous Symbolist Russian painter. This painting "The girl in the headdress" [Девушка в кокошнике] is from 1885. He has many, many incredible pieces. His work makes you want to watch the incredible 2002 time travel, mostly 1800s-focused art film Russian Ark [Русский ковчег, said 'Russkij Kovcheg'] again--it was done in one take! It's truly unique and interesting. It's shot all at the Winter Palace at the Russian Hermitage Museum by famous director Alexander Sokurov.



Sunday, August 24, 2014

Music

One thing to try in music is different adaptations--different takes on similar themes. It can be "Lara's Theme" [by the famous composer Maurice Jarre] from Dr. Zhivago [the American film adaptation of the famous novel], which has a great alternate version in the "Suite" by Jarre and the live one from Andre Rieu. Try the great singer Anastasia Lee's version as well.

Another example is "Edelweiss", the famous white Alpine flower song from The Sound of Music [a great version is sung by operatic soprano Anastasia Lee]--many people incorrectly think this is an old song native to Austria, but it is not.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Netherlands

Art always has interesting people involved--in this case, let's reflect on Judith Jans Leyster [or Leijster], [1609-1660] wife of a painter [Jan Miense Molenaer] who created her own works. About twenty works of hers survive. She entered the artist's guild of Haarlem in the Netherlands [in North Holland], one of the first women to do so, though many were involved in their family workshops and contributed without being in the guild on paper. This is her "Merry Trio" [ca. 1630]:



Friday, August 15, 2014

Bach

Enjoying music on harpsichord can be hard at first, our ears are no longer accustomed to it. Try some famous pieces by Bach on a spinet - a great performance, and very accessible. It begins with the lovely 'Prelude Fugue No. 1 in C Major' [BWV 846] which opens Bach's famous The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1.

The image below is aEnglish bentside spinet by Thomas Hitchcock - Haddlon Hall (Derbyshire).


Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Looser Classical

For classical music, try putting British composer Purcell's [1659-1695] opera 'The Fairy Queen' on and relaxing or as background music. It has great orchestra work and lovely voices. It's very accessible and lovely, a bit like Handel or like Mozart-style [quiet/slow version] vocals.

If you prefer more earthy music, try this excellent, long set of laid-back but refined Spanish guitar music from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. Even people unaccustomed to listening to guitar will enjoy this--just think of it as low, easy strings sections, because it sounds incredible.

If all that is still too structured, you can always try a selection of imagined 'Music from Ancient Rome'. It's quite interesting and unpredictable. Very lively and invigorating, especially for anyone who enjoys 'modern' [ie. post-Stravinsky] classical music.

Mucha

Famous Czech Alphonse Mucha [1860-1939] was a great art nouveau artist--the flowy lines and neo-classical raiment are gorgeous. Usually people are more familiar or prefer art deco, with it's Mondarin-esque sense, Poirot air, majesty and geometric stability. Mucha is one area where art nouveau clearly outstrips it's later rival. While it's flowing tone can look strange on buildings and sculpture, it looks great in art.

Mucha's series on precious stones/gems is one of his best, and a little lesser known than the rest of his work--the original has the labels underneath, saying 'Topaz, Ruby, Amethyst, Emerald':

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Endings


For music, try the the famous French Baroque composer Rameau's [1683-1764] works, starting with his “Pièces de Clavecin Suite in E Minor: I. Allemande: I" [1706], the first of a set of works, on the harpsichord.

For food, at the mid-point where we near the end of summer, I yearn for autumn. Suddenly summer is too much. It's a natural mental switch that allows you to look forward to the coming season, I think. I finally realized to just flow with it. Accept change, look forward to it. Make gâteau Tournusien, from Tournus of Saône-et-Loire in the mid-East of France. It is often made with meringue, almonds, vanilla buttercream and nougat inside.

Then make the ultimate frosty treat: Dominosteine. In Europe [Germany/Austria] it is a reminder of Christmas and holiday time. One great recipe has it made of Lebkuchen [gingerbread], marzipan and -- here is incredible PetitFourBoutique variation on the recipe.

Of course, a must read is Grace & Poise. Just a lovely place to read and enjoy. It's so often something you can imagine thinking yourself, brilliant in its concise wisdom.


The Mid-East

One great piece is German painter Ferdinand Max Bredt's [1868-1921] "Queen of the Harem". Usually Orientalist work can slide too quickly into fantasy and the male gaze, but this portrait seems atypically interesting and subdued. Look here to see more of his work.

Be sure to try his unique "In einem Innenhof, Tunis", ['In a courtyard, Tunis'] as it is a painting with a very interesting and special model. Harem girls are rarely painted as people who have olive skin, seeing as the painters were mostly Western Europeans, but there it is different.


Drink

One great piece to know is the successful Spanish painter Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta's [1841-1920] "Hot Chocolate". The delicacy of the color work is astounding, and the lovely little details are so beautiful. Note the little letter dropped to the floor and the clothes tossed into the neighboring chair.


Madrigal

One way to get into early or pre-Common Era/pre-Baroque music is to try madrigals. They were Renaissance and early Baroque secular music that came from 1520's Italy. Many famous people worte them, like Palestrina and Orlande de Lassus.

Try the excellent piece "Altri canti d'amor, tenero arciero" ['Let others sing of love, the tender archer'] by major early Baroque transition music figure Monteverdi [1567-1643] from his Madrigals, book 8 [publ. 1638]. It's a lovely, light piece--perfect for this time of year.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Classical

One great blog to read that's got fascinating, unique about the reality of classical music lives is the METblog. I was shocked to find that it's a real blog, with interesting information about all aspects of the musicians lives, practices, auditions and opinions on their collaborations--think of how they work together, one on one often, during so many pieces.

A great place to try lots of Baroque music, if you'd like to explore early classical work, is TheBaroqueMusicLibrary. They've got a huge amount of free music to listen to. You can easily play it in your browser. It's quite the great place and an incredible resource for the world.

Anyway, if you are exploring classical for the first time, an easy way to enter it's world is through film scores--many people loved Christopher Nolan's film scores [often done by composer Hans Zimmer]. One film many enjoyed is The Young Victoria, about Queen Victoria, which had a great track 'The First Waltz' by Ilan Esherki. The actual theme is a fantasy from Donizetti's opera L'elisir d'amore [The Elixir of Love], a comic opera, called 'Della crudele Isolde'

Voice

One great song to try in the modern vein, for people who like strong voices [ie. Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, etc] is the lovely chanteuse Weyes Blood. Her work is quite atmospheric and almost echoing with a kind of Poe-like sensibility to it--the type that'd play as you read House of Leaves. Try her 'Storms that Breed'. It almost has an edge of that mysterious, beautiful, eerie fog in Silent Hill. Also try her 'Romneydale'; anyone who likes Air [ie. used in the film Lost in Translation] might enjoy her as well, though this is more intense.

If you like her or prefer instrumental-heavy music, try the excellent Big Blood's piece 'Water'. Lovely vocals! They almost sound norse or celtic. This is the direction I wanted the band Garbage to go in.

If you prefer more folk-style music, try Fire on Fire's 'Liberty Unknown'.

An old classic to try is André Rieu's take on The Beautiful Blue Danube ie 'An der schönen blauen Donau' Op. 314. It's a very famous and accessible piece, composed by the Austrian 'waltz king' Johann Strauss II [1825-1899] in 1866. He wrote many waltzes, polkas and quadrilles [early 1800s form of square dancing]--tons of dance music.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Japan

This is a great piece, and it is also a good one to start someone on Asian or Japanese art history. It's quite gorgeous--it's 'Maiko Playing Shuttlecock' by  長谷川貞信三代  ie. Sadanobu III Hasegawa [1881-1963]; related artists/schools.


Music

Some more summer pieces to try during this time of the year are the 'Rigaudon, Suite in G' from Handel's 'Water Music', say from the The Age of Baroque (Volume 1) cd.

I would also try the Outlander [based on the time-travel to Highlands Scotland book series by Diana Gabaldon] standing stones druid ceremony scene [as the sun rises during the first episode of the tv series] by composer Bear McCreary. It's a great piece. The first episode was put online by the network Starz, I believe.

Also try the 'Marian Anthem (Alma Redemptoris Mater)' online [this version is different, it's by Orlande de Lassus [1532-1594, try this one for a version closer to the cd] or by The Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey on the cd Christmas Chant - Traditional Latin Plainsong. You feel like you're walking through the stone cold floors of a church immediately, and it's beautiful and calm.

If you prefer emotional Chopin pieces, try the famous pianist Martha Argerich's take on 'Ballade No.1 in G minor, Op.23' on the cd Martha Argerich - Chopin.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Music

One piece to put on in the summer is Scarlatti's "Keyboard Sonata In E [K. 380]", played by Alexandre Tharaud on the album Scarlatti (D): Keyboard Sonatas. It's a perfect light piece for a hot, sunny atmosphere and it's a great, accessible piece, even for people who are new to classical music. It's upbeat but not aggressive. Listen to lots of Scarlatti here, and fast forward to get to K.380, or try a rendition of that piece alone here [to make it easier].

Scarlatti [1685-1757] is like Bach in terms of feeling, but almost lighter and faster, almost sweeter. He was an Italian Baroque composer who worked in Spain and Portugal mainly.

Also try J.S. Bach's "Concerto In C Minor For 2 Harpsichords [BWV 1062]; movement 2. Andante" for a slower, more relaxing sound. It could help people fall asleep if you turned it down very low, but for the most part it's delicate work simply helps you focus and relax at the same time--it's the audible equivalent of lavender's scent. It's played by Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra from the album Bach: Harpsichord Concertos [Disc 3] -- try listening to part of a rendition here.

Don't make the mistake I made and assume a few pieces by Bach are enough to tell if you truly enjoy him--his work has thousands of moods and shades. You will find at least one you love, just keep trying different pieces. J.S. Bach [1685-1750] was one of the most important composers of the Baroque period; his son C.P.E. Bach was a big composer as well, his music is more emotional and intimate than usual Baroque period stuff [he used to be more popular than his father, but now history has switched them again].

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Roundup


Best photography blog perhaps of all time: Cereal Magazine's Journal. I think I fell into one the photos and am now on the other side of the world. What excellent work! They have such an interesting art magazine, someone please either buy me a subscription or let me work for them <3

If you're tired of the heat and can't wait for fall and winter, find a place with a/c and listen to Albano Berberi's great performance of 'Greensleeves', which he adapted for the harpsichord. You can almost imagine the crisp air that's coming. The seasons are immutable, and sometimes that's a positive.

The painting is Louis Welden Hawkin's [1849-1910] Les jardin de la pension Laurent, a usually Symbolist painter. This one is more old fashioned. Symbolism was a reaction in part to Impressionism, it focused on metaphor, fantasy and the unexplainable, like magic.



Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Art

For nature painting and art, I love Kelsey Garrity-Riley's months of the year illustrations--truly gorgeous with an art nouveau flair. July, or maybe November is my favorite. What a talent. I'm happy to see real artists are returning with their sense of beauty, holistic wholeness and radiance.

 


French

If you read French or love food photography with a exquisite French bent, be sure to look at the amazing, almost minimalist in loveliness photographs at Griottes. It's the place for gourmets.

You can also use it to practice your reading comprehension... or just scroll to see the next set of incredible photos. It's almost like an art installation, but most of the materials are either food, things from nature or china.

Gauguin

Gauguin [1848-1903] was a different, interesting painter whose work spans several areas. Look through his work here as it changed through time--he painted landscapes and people in a typical, pre-Impressionism 1880s style. He did more and more landscapes that seem to echo Van Gogh. He's worth looking at in depth, he didn't just paint nudes of Tahitians--he captures many peoples in many types of scenes. Gauguin was someone who painted in his own Post-Impressionist style, who went his own way. His hot, tropical use of color inspired some Symbolists to use the same.

Gauguin went to French Polynesia in 1891 because he was tired of the West. He lived in Tahiti particularly, and painted many scenes of the island and its people. Summer is a great time to be introduced to him because the use of hot colors seems more natural and inviting to people who don't live in a hot climate year round.

One of my favorite pieces of his work is his Trois Tahitiens, ou Conversation [1899], 'Three Tahitians, or Conversation'. It's lovely and has a real beauty to it.


Sweet

One of the best mood lifting things you can do is look at sweet, cute photos or read exquisite, delicate gourmet and culinary blogs. If you've read too much Verlaine [1844-1896] recently, ie. the French symbolist poet, don't overload on nihilistic poetry, relax and take a break.

For food and desserts, with recipes and photographs, the best is definitely BossaCafez--it has such a high level of detail, perfection and delicacy it makes you want to simply move and buy the food each day! Truly gorgeous.

Another truly excellent food and culinary blog is UneGamineDansLaCuisine. The photos are a cut above any other place online, and the writing is beautiful. It's quite poetic and has great ideas for a gourmet or a cook.

Two great cute, relaxing collections of adorable photos are CutestFood and KawaiiOnly, they are both sweet and light.


Monday, July 21, 2014

Music

If you want a fast-paced running song, or just like classical music reinterpretations [a la on Sarah Chang's Fire & Ice cd, where there are composer Sarasate's 'fantasies' pieces, in which he re-imagines Bizet's opera Carmen], try the 'Electric cello - Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata-inspired piece' by the great ThePianoGuys.

Also try their excellent, exciting 'Carol of the Bells [12 cellos]'. It transcends it's Christmas-like, old chord sound and is quite fun. Similarly, there's their incredible take on the Mission Impossible theme. Their work is often great for exercise or running.

If you like modern, fast-paced music, try composer Tim Jones's 'Chuck action theme' from the tv series Chuck. These pieces make even a grocery run fraught with urgency and fun. Music can change your entire attitude, either energizing or calming you, depending on the piece.


Sunday, July 20, 2014

Convivial

Some easy fun is watching Chuck, the tv show--for Firefly/Serenity browncoats fans, it has Jayne Cobb ie. Adam Baldwin! His performance is truly excellent. I regret not trying this show earlier, I was unaware he was on it.

A funny blog we just discovered is the very funny, fashion-oriented Man Repeller.

For fun, light reading, try the fashion focused Dead Fleurette; it's stopped new posting, but reading back through it is quite enjoyable.

For fashion lovers and sartorialists, try looking through the photos at Chictopia, which is really fun. For people who prefer The Sartorialist to Polyvore, it's the place to be. It's like a more focused version of a fashion-focused Pinterest.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Tasty

Summer loves:
-Maine blueberry pie [you can often buy Maine pie blueberry filling in expansive grocery stores], it makes me want to see the Atlantic coast in Acadia National Park by Bar Harbor, all huge dark green trees and ocean

-Sweet coconut-filled buns with a thin top layer of cookie [called メロンパン or 'melonpan' [Japan] or 菠蘿包 or 'bo luo bao', pineapple buns [China]], you can buy them in Montreal's Chinatown; the best are in Patisserie Harmonie [85 Rue de la Gauchetiere O.] Despite the nomenclature, there is no melon or pineapple involved most of the time.

-Pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice coffee, you can easily put pumpkin spice in with your coffee grounds [or cut open a kcup, just wipe off the grounds that escape after]; before autumn it often is even more refreshing and feels like a sweet blast of cool breezes from the future



Thursday, July 17, 2014

Photos

I love I like I wear for fashion photos, it makes me want to visit a big city just to see the sartorial splendor. It's like being in Florence. For flowers, frogs, crocs, animals, snakes and reptiles check out the inimitable photo blog MonitorKeeper. If you love modern, simple art that's lovely, there's often a lot of it on Curate1k. The watercolors of flowers are beautiful and reminiscent of Impressionism's best facets.

ThreeEyed has great nature photos, they're excellent. Especially the water and the sky. They make you want to go hiking.

Precise, almost geometrical food and interior photos from Montreal are found at MtlGangster. There's almost an essence of Bach within some of them.

Mind



Light reading is something close to my heart. I always recommend the rural French countryside of My French Country Home, which has incredible photos--they truly let you feel like you're there. Another one I always check with is the classic Paris blog from traveler/gourmet David Lebovitz.

A new one I love is Sam is Home, on fashion and lovely photographs of nature/places etc. One I was just reading is A Montrealer Abroad--they were linking to the best Montreal photography instagrams and I was hooked. The best for Montreal is Inayali, there are some excellent street/nature photos there that capture what Montreal is like.

For food photography, be sure go through Myfatguyprobs, who is a gourmet that loves Montreal. It's truly a mecca for food. A few of those photos and you're already planning your next vacation up there! If you're an urban explorer, you'll prefer Jfsavaria.

There are big, colorful city and landscape photos at LiveMontreal, they really show the great scope of the place. They're huge, excellent pieces. If you love flowers and sweet lovely photos, try Montreal360, which has quiet, intimate detail photos. GuillaumeBoily has a neat bike heavy perspective of the city.

And the song of the summer is: Tiesto's "Wasted [Ummet Ozcan Remix]", if you love dance music, edm, fast-paced stuff, this is great.

Trees


Montreal is a unique gem of a city, with surprises everywhere. This huge tree installation was spotted just a little while ago, it was even more beautiful in real life. We were just there, walking through the ancient stone streets of Old town, it's like being in France. The city often has the air of Vivaldi's 1725 Four Seasons piece "Spring" [it's "1. Allegro" from "La primavera" Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269]. In many places, in Montreal's special obscure churches this seems to hum behind you through the power lines.

But when you rush through the masses shopping gaily in the summer breezes, there's the low key emotion of the foxtrot 1920s style The Great Gatsby "Young and Beautiful", the version mixed from Lana del Rey's work.

You can hike up from Chinatown to several main shopping areas, all of which have great French delicacy shops and clothes boutiques in every niche category. And of course Oglivy's is fun, downstairs be sure to see the crazy big, extravagant Godiva counters and then go to Holt Renfrew to glide past the Prada and Chanel. They have an enormous Jo Malone counter for perfume buffs.

You also have to hike through the mountain, it's nature paradise. Truly beautiful. This summer many famous, jeweled Fabergé eggs will be at the museum, we're going.

But really, you need no excuse to go. It's that good.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Singing

Summer music, just like cuisine, is often lighter and different than that of the other seasons. One type of music to try is an interesting adaptation of classical music--even if you don't like it or know much about it, many people find they love the Swingle Singers take on famous pieces. Try their take on the famous piece 'Spring' from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. If you like Beethoven and Romantic music, try their take on the well-known 'Moonlight Sonata' and be sure to listen to their excellent 1963 take on J.S. Bach's 'Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major', [BWV 846].

Old stories


Old books have value beyond measure--whether you read them online or you get real copies for some favorite children. Try Legends and Stories of Italy by Amy Steedman, it's online to read here, with its great, old-fashioned illustrations by Scottish Katherine Cameron [1874-1965]. The image above is of Dianora de Bardi, from the story "A Tale of Old Florence", a happy type of Romeo and Juliet story. Here's a little excerpt:
From early morning the bells had rung out. Coloured cloths and gay carpets hung out from every window. In the great square the city banners were floating in the breeze, and throngs of country-people came hurrying through the gates, all dressed in holiday attire. The churches were hung with crimson silk and velvet hangings, and a blaze of candles lit up each altar in honour of the festa of the patron saint of Florence.



Reading

Blogs are written in many styles--two that are in the anecdote, picture load category are the great My French Country Home from rural Normandy and Dry Paddocks from a nature-focused life in New Zealand.

Usually I steer clear of heavily photographed blogs, but these have photos that allow yourself to 'see' everything. It's almost as if you're there. That's a quite unique effect. They are both fun, simple reads, and the pictures elevate them to excellence.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Alice


One great set of illustrations for Alice in Wonderland [there are the old classic ones by Sir John Tenniel or the more modern Arthur Rackham] is oddly enough by Salvador Dalí, look at it here. His 1969 version of the art work is incredible; often odd pairings of artists and texts can be interesting, like the Italian Renaissance's Botticelli for his work here on Dante's The Divine Comedy.

Even if you don't normally like post-Victorian or post-Impressionist art, it's quite interesting and sometimes beautiful. It's definitely psychedelic.


Tolkien

If you enjoy medieval art, Eastern European traditional art, Russian Orthodox style paintings or Tolkien's the Lord of the Rings, check out the incredible illustrations of Ukranian Sergei Iukhimov [or Yuhinov], article here or tons of his images at this tumblr here. His nazgul/ringwraiths are amazing so check them out, and I love this one piece above particularly. There is also a Tolkien site here with even more art, some from The Hobbit as well.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Sun

Summer is a unique time, when the sun and the heat change the appeal of different colors, places and music. Some songs to try are the great and mystical 'The Hidden Valley' from the early Hobbit score by Howard Shore. If you enjoy it, be sure to also watch the extended scene 'Arrival at Rivendell' for the audio, it's more slow and ethereal.

Summer is also the time of year when you can enjoy looking forward to the crisp of autumn, of winter and of spices. It seems like a relief to imagine it, without the annoying reality of the cold infringing. In this vein, many people like to listen to Christmas and associated music [like Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons'] during this time. Old cds of the Vienna Boys Choir are always great to try, as is famous folk singer Joan Baez's 1966 Noel. [Try her 'Ave maria' or 'I wonder as I wander' and 'Down in yon forest', a unique, excellent forgotten song.

Play the cd through once--some songs are just beautiful instrumentals]. This album is one of the great standards, like Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet score and Nat King Cole's and Bing Crosby's Christmas cds.

If you enjoy the song of choirs, try the great choir 'The Senior Choir of First Lutheran Church' from Omaha, NE on their cd 'Radio Station KFUO Presents Christmas Hymns & Carols'. They do all the classics well.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Music


If you like Lana del Rey's music or Adele's, one band to try is First Aid Kit. They had a well known song in 2012, called 'Emmylou' if you recall, and famously covered Fleet Foxes' song 'Tiger Mountain Peasant Song'. They also covered the Rolling Stones' song 'Playing with fire' live very well.

Be sure to try their new song "My silver lining" on their new album Stay Gold, which is a great song--equally fun to listen to in a car or at home. Also try their 'Our own pretty ways', which is excellent.

If you enjoy Lana del Rey's more pop-like music, First Aid Kit is a great band to try. They have very similar tones and moods, yet hustle along faster than Lana's slower pace. It's great summer music.


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Boris



Royal Pains is a great, fun show about a doctor in the rarefied world of the summer Hamptons. It's very cute, and has a great mysterious character Boris, played by Campbell Scott. He's incredible, and a great foil for Hank, the main doctor. It's on USA on Tuesdays at 9pm. Be sure to watch the pilot--it's still one of the best episodes--the surprise in the case is truly surprising. As is the later shark and the woman who is swimming with them!

Tv Rewatch



One show worth re-watching, especially for the autumn scenes in grey, sweater dotted Paris near the Seine river, is Highlander. Every episode with Hugh Fitzcairn [famous singer Roger Daltrey from The Who], or Methos, or Amanda too is gold. The show has some over the top moments, but it's easy to forgive them their few mistakes. The scenery itself is quite interesting--you don't often see Paris in grey, cold autumn unless you're reading David Lebovitz's blog about living there, even through the cold seasons.

The flashbacks to other time periods make this show a real alternative for people who enjoy shows that deal with the temporal immortal reality of, say, vampires, ie. history flashback moments. Sometimes Methos is not done subtly, but even then you can imagine 'what is he really thinking?'--this is someone who could have been taught by Sun Tzu. What is the real import of his actions?

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Ancient



"Circe Offering the Cup to Odysseus" by John William Waterhouse [1849-1917] is a great example of the classic power of ancient myth and legend. The paradigms, archetypes and lessons you must puzzle from them are as interesting as speculating what really happened, and why a legend grew out of something. Part of studying pagan religions and cults is looking at history, ancient culture and other ways of thinking. It is a new lens through which to see the beauty of nature, the sea and the simple, topmost pleasures of life.

Circe [Greek: Κίρκη] was an interesting ancient Greek sorceress, also called a goddess or nymph. She used liquid magic potions and her staff [like a long straight wand] to turn her enemies, and Ulysses and his men into animals. All this is recorded in the famous ancient Greek epic of Homer, the Odyssey [Greek: Ὀδύσσεια]. Read Butler's famous translation here. Here's a neat excerpt:

"'We went,' said he, 'as you told us, through the forest, and in the middle of it there was a fine house built with cut stones in a place that could be seen from far. There we found a woman, or else she was a goddess, working at her loom and singing sweetly; so the men shouted to her and called her, whereon she at once came down, opened the door, and invited us in. The others did not suspect any mischief so they followed her into the house, but I staid where I was, for I thought there might be some treachery. From that moment I saw them no more, for not one of them ever came out, though I sat a long time watching for them.'
"Then I took my sword of bronze and slung it over my shoulders; I also took my bow, and told Eurylochus to come back with me and shew me the way. But he laid hold of me with both his hands and spoke piteously, saying, 'Sir, do not force me to go with you, but let me stay here, for I know you will not bring one of them back with you, nor even return alive yourself; let us rather see if we cannot escape at any rate with the few that are left us, for we may still save our lives.'
"'Stay where you are, then,' answered I, 'eating and drinking at the ship, but I must go, for I am most urgently bound to do so.'
"With this I left the ship and went up inland. When I got through the charmed grove, and was near the great house of the enchantress Circe, I met Mercury with his golden wand, disguised as a young man in the hey-day of his youth and beauty with the down just coming upon his face. He came up to me and took my hand within his own, saying, 'My poor unhappy man, whither are you going over this mountain top, alone and without knowing the way? Your men are shut up in Circe's pigstyes, like so many wild boars in their lairs. You surely do not fancy that you can set them free? I can tell you that you will never get back and will have to stay there with the rest of them. But never mind, I will protect you and get you out of your difficulty. Take this herb, which is one of great virtue, and keep it about you when you go to Circe's house, it will be a talisman to you against every kind of mischief.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Celtic


Maud Gonne [1866-1953] was the smart and famous Irish political figure, nationalist, activist, promoter of women's rights, revolutionary, actress, intellectual, beauty and muse of the very famous, Nobel in literature prize winner Irish poet W.B. Yeats [1865-1939]. Many parts of his work are about her or were written for her; you can read much of it here. In Irish Gaelic [Gaeilge] her name stands as Maud Nic Ghoinn Bean Mac Giolla Bhríghde. In that time period, many people began to promote a return to Irish Gaelic [there are over 6 types of Gaelic spread out all over the celtic areas of Europe].

She founded a society for women in 1900 so that they too could work for Ireland and all Irish interests and national customs and pride called Inghinidhe na hÉireann ("Daughters of Ireland"). Her work, and Yeats' poetry as well are great ways to begin learning about history, cultures and literature. The photo of her above is particularly exceptional. It draws you in of its own accord.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

North



These movies with Thor and Loki are a great resource to start learning about the nine realms and Norse mythology. For example, the beautiful gold amulet-shaped art pieces from the Iron Age called gullgubber ['little old man of gold'] are gorgeous and something very interesting. The above is a photo of Fanefjord church in Denmark [ie. the burial place of Queen Fane], on the island of Møn, with exceptional biblical ceiling art from the 1300s-1500s. They were hidden under plaster in the past.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

The eye


All over the world, cruel intent is feared--in many areas this is called the 'evil eye', or mati in Greek for example. People wear hamsa and eye charms, sometimes with the eye on the hand symbol, and often wear crosses as well, or other appropriate religious protective symbols. The Roman mosaic from Antiochia [Greek Ἀντιόχεια] in Turkey [often called 'the Near East'] above depicts the eye being taken down and defeated by a scorpion, cat, snake, centipede insect, dog as it is stabbed by a sword and a big trident on top. The Greek letters mean 'Kai Su', 'and you [too/as well]'.

Antioch was also the city where Christianity had a large, fast spreading base in the ancient world. Note on the mosaic the Greek-style wave pattern. Roman art often incorporated Greek styles.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Sacred



While we have been to holy places of all faiths and persuasions, all over the world, the individual stories of historical people always stand out. Along with beautiful art, architecture, music and writing, thinking about the sacred often brings to mind the courage people had in the ancient and past world.

One of these people is St Joan of Arc [1412-1431] from Domrémy in north-eastern France, painted with the saints appearing and speaking to her by the French symbolist painter Gaston Bussière [1862-1928], above. Many films have been made about Joan, like the famous silent one, the 1928 The Passion of Joan of Arc and the 1994 French film Jeanne la Pucelleclick to watch, [title meaning 'Jeanne the Maiden'] by French director Jacques Rivette and French actress Sandrine Bonnaire [b. 1967].

Anyway, St. Saturnina's feast day is June 4th. Whether or not she is legend or fact [probably living pre-1100], there must have been some person out there who suffered as she did. In that vein, I think there is something to honor and think about.

Slow


This manuscript of medieval music is in Italy, probably Florence or in Tuscany--our friend photographer has forgotten which town he snapped it in. While our Western music has evolved past the advancements Pope Gregory the Great [540-604] helped along, ancient music has great appeal if you approach it in the right way.

Put on 'Missa Pange lingua' by the famous Josquin des Prez [1450-1521] from the Netherlands, or his 'Berzerette savoyenne' from the Missa by Chanticleer and lie down and relax, or even clean/organize. During the summer especially, medieval and Renaissance music from the West gives a feeling of cool echoing, of stone walls and dim corridors, of sweet hints of incense and relief from the heat.

The hour long piece 'Gregorian Chants with the sounds of nature' is also a great combination if you enjoy that type of thing.

Fun



There is a sense in which life in earlier eras was simpler than our time. The diversions were different and few, though the culture was more alcohol and smoke infused. It is sometimes helpful to recall those distant days and think about how we too can enjoy the simple pleasure of life. Something as simple as a cool glass of water in the heat, or a green melon, or a slice of watermelon can be transporting and refreshing. There are no higher pleasures than the natural ones.

The sweet daub of perfume, the dark green of plants inside the house, the flicker of a candle at dusk--these things are more than they seem. It is important to enjoy them all. Those moments of silence and echoing beauty give the soul a kind of stalwart strength, a deep well of calm.

The painting above is one that illustrates this, portraying its title 'Reading Aloud' and Victorian life--it's by the American Julius LeBlanc Stewart [1855-1919], who lived mostly in Paris.