A place for reflection and introspection, communication and thoughtful conversation.
Saturday, 16 February 2008
MOZART FOR SATURDAY
“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul” – Plato
Ah, Mozart! Truly, a genius, a magician weaving spells with his notes, melodies that enter our hearts and elevate our soul!
Here is a famous aria from an opera that was never finished, “Zaide” composed in 1780. Zaide falls in love with Gomatz, a slave, which strikes up jealousy and rage in the Sultan, who happens to also admire her. After capture she chooses a free life with Gomatz rather than a good life with the Sultan. Allazim encourages the sultan to consider Gomatz as a man, not as a slave. The tender soprano air, "Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben" is the only number that might be called moderately familiar, but it is a masterpiece, nevertheless.
If you have never heard this before, read the lyrics and then listen to how Mozart makes each and every word live and breathe emotion with his music… Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben,schlafe, bis dein Glück erwacht!da, mein Bild will ich dir geben,schau, wie freundlich es dir lacht:Ihr süßen Träume, wiegt ihn ein,und lasset seinem Wunsch am Endedie wollustreichen Gegenständezu reifer Wirklichkeit gedeihn.
Rest peacefully, sweet love of my life, Sleep 'till you re-awake in happiness! Here, I give you a picture of me, See how lovingly it smiles at you; Oh, let those sweet dreams cradle him, And finally let All sensual things he desires Come to rich fruition.
I have been blogging daily on this platform for several years now. It is surprising that I have persisted as the world is changing and "microblogging" is now the norm. I blog to amuse myself, make comment on current affairs, externalise some of my creativity, keep notes on things that interest me, learn something new and to surprise myself with things that I discover about this wonderful, and sometimes crazy, world we live in.
I sometimes get the impression that I am on a soapbox delivering a monologue, so your comments are welcome.
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