Monthly Playlist: May 2023
Hello from Kyoto! I’m here in my birthplace to rediscover historic rituals and customs that are still present in people’s lives. My goal is to find non-verbal ways in which certain traditional rituals create a sense of community and connection, and I’ve been trying to approach this through the lens of design, concept, and philosophy. Because of the rather abstract nature of the research, I’ve been doing as many things as possible to find clues - experiencing traditional crafts and ceremonies, talking to the locals, attending rituals, etc.
This month’s playlist is inspired by one of my findings here, which is that the Japanese rituals and ceremonies honor and connect us to nature. Most matsuri (festivals at shrines) happen outdoors, surrounded by trees, rocks, streams, and falls. Ancient trees are considered sacred and holy spirits descend to mountains.Old Kyoto homes are made of wood, which are protected from fire by a paper talisman at the front door. I hope the playlist will transport you to the woods to experience its beauty and mystery.
1. Inspired by a postcard showing a picturesque landscape of Wainscot Pond, a lake in the Hamptons, New York.
2. “...And its branches rustled
as if they were calling to me:
‘Come to me, friend,
here you will find rest.”
3. Björn, a young man who wanders into the forest, gets emotionally caught and fatally deserted by a supernatural being - the Wood Nymph. Inspired by a poem by Rydberg of the same title.
4. Schumann wrote this piece a few years before committing himself to a mental asylum and his eventual death after an attempted suicide. It explores the forest's beauty, mystery, and the unknown- perhaps reflecting his own life battling with mental instability.
5. “...Deep in the heart
Is where the forest murmurs,
In which my beloved walks,
The echo
Fell asleep in sorrow,
The songs have blown away.”
6. Composer’s own words: “the experience of being in the parks, as in a vast cathedral… the beauty of small details, such as flowers and plants, within the larger picture of forests and fields… every part contributing to the sheer majesty.”
7. An avid hiker, gardener, and pigeon fancier, Dvorak went on daily walks for relaxation and inspiration for his music.