Friday, 27 May 2011

Jacaranda Mist

A beautiful ethereal amazing sight. The jacaranda trees in blossom alongs the streets and in the parks of Lisbon. The come into flower in early May and continue more or less through till the end of the month. It’s a short season, like the cherry blossom. it begins with a kind of lavender coloured mist at the tops of the bare trees lining the Alameda dos Oceanos here in Parque das Nações. The leaves tend to come later. Then gradually the trees fill out into a fully body of colour as though the paint from the treetops was slowly dripping down through the branches. The avenue, for a few short weeks, turns into that distinctive shade of mauve or purple. Then the blossoms begin to fall and the canopy becomes a carpet beneath your feet.


Psalm 145 says that “all of God’s works shall praise Him, speaking of the glory of His kingdom, and talking of His power” and Psalm 19 speaks of ”day unto day uttereth forth speech” and that the heavens declare the God and show his handiwork. Nowhere better displayed than in the Jacaranda mist that is covering Lisbon at present



Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Part and Bliss

I’m continuing to rave about the contemporary Estonian composer. Arvo Pãrt. I am currently listening to an album of his music called “I am the True Vine” played by the Theatre of Voices led by Paul Hillier and am loving it. Am not quite sure of Part’s religious context, whether it is Lutheran, Catholic, or Orthodox (or indeed a mixture of all three) but in his musical treatments of Biblical topics I find he sticks closely to the scriptural text, in this case, of course John 15, and also Matthew 26 with “the Woman with the Alabastar Box” which is another stunning track. Wonderful, ethereal, uplifting heavenly music.


Other equally compelling music I am currently listening to is by Bliss, an outfit headed up by Danish musician Steffen Aaskoven. The contrast could not be more startling - instead of austere cathedrals of Tallinn, think sunsets over the beaches of Ibiza. “Quiet Letters” is an ultimate chillout album, just the thing to listen to with the last light of an evening twilight over the Rio Tejo. I guess I like it particularly as it combines European, Asian and African rhythms with the Portuguese lyrics of Tchando from Guinea-Bissau. Listen in to "Quiet Letters" if you can get find a copy.


Pãrt


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP5s2BxM-L0


Bliss


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emeVWAK1YZA&feature=related