Balta Alba, Work in Progress

A few words about a work in progress documentary, Balta Alba, covering three generations of musicians living in that part of Bucharest, jazz, pop, punk, avangarde, heavy metal, hip hop, new wave post punk, the whole spectrum:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/balta-alba-white-pond

(http://vimeo.com/68820130)

(Bucuresti)

(Filmofilia)

Bucharest: Mid May in IOR Park

(Musical Background: Beethoven, Piano Sonata No.18 in E-Flat Major, Op.31 No.3: I. Allegro, Clara Haskil)

(Bucuresti)

Emily Dickinson: Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church

Today we celebrate here in Romania the Easter, and weather is great: spring is in full blossom, and it gives you a feeling of fulfillment. I think a poem by Emily Dickinson is appropriate.

Some keep the Sabbath going to church;
I keep it staying at home,

With a bobolink for a chorister,
And an orchard for a dome.

Some keep the Sabbath in surplice;
I just wear my wings,
And instead of tolling the bell for church,
Our little sexton sings.

God preaches, - a noted clergyman, -
And the sermon is never long;
So instead of getting to heaven at last,
I'm going all along!

 (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/182809)

You would say that this looks a bit rebellious. And Emily Dickinson considered herself a bit rebellious indeed, in matters of religion (she wrote about this in several letters). Well, I would say that her rebellious ways were more an illusion: small mutinies expressed in her verses, and hidden there, very well balanced by gentleness.

I tried a Romanian rendering. It's lubberly, no doubt about. Please, don't judge me too harshly:

Unii ţin Ziua Domnului mergând la biserică;
Eu o ţin stând la mine in grădină,
Dascăl îmi e un cintezoi,
Iar bolta livezii îmi e cupolă.

Unii ţin Ziua Domnului in odăjdii,
Eu îmi port doar aripile,
Şi în loc sa tragă clopotele,
Cintezoiul - dascălul nostru mititel - doar cântă.

Iar Dumnezeu e cel ce ţine predica - ah, este un preot foarte învăţat -
Şi predica nu este niciodata lungă, asta mai ales,
Aşa că în loc sa merg în rai la sfârşitul sfârşitului,
Merg acolo în toată vremea.

(Emily Dickinson)

IOR Park in Bucharest - End of April

(Bucuresti)

Inceput de Decembrie in Parcul IOR

(Bucuresti)

Winterscape

(Bucuresti)

Ion Barbu: Copacul

Hipnotizat de-adanca si limpedea lumina
A boltilor destinse deasupra lui, ar vrea
Sa sfarme zenitul, si, -nnebunit, sa bea,
Prin mii de crengi crispate, licoarea opalina.

Nici valurile noptii, nici umeda perdea
De nouri nu-i goneste imagina senina;
De-un stralucit albastru viziunea lui e plina,
Oricat de multe neguri în juru-i vor cadea…

Dar cand augusta toamna din nou il înfasoara
In tonuri de crepuscul, cand toamna prinde iara
Sub casca lui de frunze un rod îmbelsugat,

Atunci, intrand in simpla, obsteasca armonie
Cu tot ce-l limiteaza si-l leaga impacat,
In toamna lui, copacul se-nclina catre glie.

(adaugat de madia in http://www.versuri-si-creatii.ro/poezii/b/ion-barbu-7zudhuu/copacul-6zuhdst.html)

sonnet form: abba baab ccd ede

(A Life in Books)

2011, May First: About Birds, Trees and Tortoises

(Bucuresti)

Study in Black and White

(Bucuresti)

Bucharest 2011: Black Swans

(Bucuresti)

Peacocks

(Bucuresti)