The Living Room

The nostalgia of the infinite

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Michaela

When I started this blog in the summer of 2010, I developed a curious and intense interest in Beethoven and his music. Where I live, many of Beethoven’s later and greatest works have been composed. He had moved to the outskirts for health reasons and soon thereafter he lost his hearing and withdrew from the world to enter deeper and deeper into the realm of infinity. His music bears witness of this journey.

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Posted in Classical Music, Listening to Orpheus, Music & Movies, Orpheus | Tagged Beethoven, Daniel Barenboim, death, Infinity, Orpheus, Religion and Spirituality, surrender, underworld | Leave a comment

I am I

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Michaela

On the beach

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Michaela

Thanks to Anton L for allowing me to post this…

Posted in Places | 1 Comment

A path into darkness and silence

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Michaela

Listening to Orpheus (5)

I love this piece, even though it is so popular and many times just mis-interpreted. The story of the “Moonlight Sonata” is a bittersweet one. Beethoven fell in love with one of his students – Giuletta Giuccardi. He wanted to marry her, but her father would not allow it. The unique quality of the moonlight sonata is it’s strong vibration – listen and feel Beethoven’s heart, his longing and the piercing pain – about the loss of his hearing, and the loss of the woman he loved. In this sonata he is anticipating his own path into darkness and silence.

It appears that Daniel Barenboim is playing it at a slower pace to accentuate the vibration even more. Can you feel it ? Thats the sound of Orpheus singing…the passion beyond the grief.

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Posted in Listening to Orpheus, Orpheus | Tagged Ludwig van Beethoven, Moonlight Sonata, Piano Sonata No. 14 (Beethoven), silence | Leave a comment

Do you see images when you play ?

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Michaela

Listening to Orpheus (4)

What is important is when you play you are telling a story and the listener is getting the story. And then he goes on to demonstrate just how to do that.

Daniel Barenboims masterclass on the Beethoven piano sonatas. A teaching

Posted in Listening to Orpheus, Orpheus, Teacher & Teachings | Tagged Daniel Barenboim, Ludwig van Beethoven | Leave a comment

Time it lies to us

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Michaela

Just Snoopy

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Glerikud

Posted in Glances | 1 Comment

If I were alone…

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Michaela

If I were alone in the desert and feeling afraid,
I would want a child to be with me.
For then my fear would disappear and I would be made strong.
This is what life in itself can do because it is so noble, so full of pleasure and so powerful.

But if I could not have a child with me,
I would like to have at least a living animal at my side to comfort me.

Therefore,
let those who bring about wonderful things in their big, dark books take an animal – perhaps a dog – to help them.

The life within the animal will give strength in turn.
For equality gives strength in all things and at all times.

Meister Eckhart

Posted in Eckhart speaks | Tagged Inspiration, Meister Eckhart | Leave a comment

Deep inside their hearing

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Michaela

Tree of Life

Listening to Orpheus (3)

This is my curious and slightly miraculous turn of attention to an archetype deeply rooted in all of us – Orpheus. The father of music and poetry, the one who lived in communion with nature and learned his art by listening to the language of the trees. The ultimate poet-seer, the musician whose song charmed death himself. What was it that Orpheus actually experienced, that made his creative expression so unique and powerful ?

The song of life…

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Posted in Listening to Orpheus, Orpheus | Tagged Daniel Barenboim, Hearing, language of the trees, Life, Listening, Orpheus, Rainer Maria Rilke, vibratory power | 1 Comment

What is Grace ?

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Michaela

“What is Grace” I asked God.

And he said,

“All that happens.”

Then He added, when I looked perplexed,

“Could not lovers
say that every moment in their Beloved’s arms
was grace?”

Existence is my arms,
though I well understand how one can turn
away from
me

until the heart has
wisdom”

– St John of the Cross