from Oannes *

Υπάρχει ένα κλισέ με το οποίο πάντα σύστηνα σε φίλους, αναγεννησιακούς συνθέτες όπως ο John Dowland : «αυτά τα τραγούδια ακούγονται σαν να γράφτηκαν χθες. Νιώθεις πως αφορούν εσένα και τη ζωή σου».
Οι ειδήμονες της κλασικής θα αντέτειναν ότι εξ ίσου αφορά τη ζωή μας ένα συμφωνικό έργο, και θα είχαν δίκιο. Απλώς, με ένα τραγούδι όπως το “Flow My Tears”, πέρα απ’ την ψευδαίσθηση της χρονικής απόστασης, γίνεται αντιληπτό και ότι η “λόγια μουσική” δεν είναι ένα είδος απόρθητου κάστρου όπως την θέλουν κάποιοι, ένας αρχαίος θησαυρός που τον φυλάει κάποιος δράκος…
Ακούμε το αριστούργημα του John Dowland από την παραγωγή του Manfred Eicher για την ECM. Ερμηνεύει ο John Potter.

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There is a cliché with which I introduced to friends, Renaissance composers like John Dowland : «these songs sound like they were written yesterday. You feel they are about you and your life».
Classical music experts would argue that a symphonic work equally concerns our lives, and they ‘d be right.
It’s just that through a song like “Flow My Tears”, apart from the illusion of time distance, another thing is also revealed : classical music is not an impregnable castle, an ancient treasure guarded by a dragon, as some people want it …
We hear John Dowland’s masterpiece from Manfred Eicher’s production for ECM, performed by John Potter.

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❝ Flow, my tears, fall from your springs!
Exiled for ever, let me mourn
Where night’s black bird her sad infamy sings
There let me live forlorn
Down vain lights, shine you no more
No nights are dark enough for those
That in despair their last fortunes deplore
Light doth but shame disclose
Never may my woes be relieved
Since pity is fled
And tears and sighs and groans my weary days, my weary days
Of all joys have deprived
From the highest spire of contentment
My fortune is thrown
And fear and grief and pain for my deserts, for my deserts
Are my hopes, since hope is gone
Hark! you shadows that in darkness dwell
Learn to contemn light
Happy, happy they that in hell
Feel not the world’s despite
Hark! you shadows that in darkness dwell
Learn to contemn light
Happy, happy they that in hell
Feel not the world’s despite ❞

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Enjoy!

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As always, I’m happy to hear your thoughts, however I’d highly recommend a direct dialogue with the …’source’ [why comments are closed here], so please visit Oannes’ page where you can also listen to the music!

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* For my friends who didn’t know, or first timers here, Oannes [aka Socratis Papahatzis] is my husband, partner in life and music and the one with my undying admiration. Together we have a band MK-O [the music of Marina Kanavaki & Oannes]. So, it’s my pleasure to share with you his [and sometimes mine] musical selections. • Do visit his site. He has my highest recommendation!