SOUNDTRACK: ALISA WEILERSTEIN-“Prelude from Bach’s Suite No. 5” (Field Recordings, February 16, 2012).
One thing I love about the Field Recordings series is the wonderfully unexpected places they have the performers play. Like this Field Recording [Alisa Weilerstein: Playing Bach With The Fishes] which is set at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
Strategically positioned above a tank full of stingrays, Weilerstein unpacked her cello to serenade the sea creatures — and dozens of pleasantly surprised aquarium visitors — with music by Johann Sebastian Bach. She chose the Prelude from Bach’s Suite No. 5 for unaccompanied cello. The music’s tranquil power and meandering melodies became an extraordinary soundtrack to the majestic rays as they roamed through the water, rising occasionally to catch a note or two.
The music is sublime–sad and powerful but ever so fluid. And the setting is just perfect–you can almost see the fish appreciate it.
[READ: February 2, 2018] “Four Fictions”
Breytenbach confounds me with his stories. This is a collection of four really short pieces and while I enjoyed parts of some of them, overall they were a big huh?
Race
This appears to be a race through the sea? On foot? A tractor charges into the waves and a Jeep follows. The route will take them through the sea to Germany and back to Stockholm. Their friend Sven is running in the race (he’s from Lapland). When the race is over he still has to run through the house to the balcony. When they gather for the results , how many drowned, etc, the story ends with another man removing his top hat and his hair looking sunken and dry.
What? (more…)
I Just Read About That... 