Women In Restoration By Isabella De Maddalena

The Signs as Symphonies (or just symphonic works)

Being someone who just graduated with my BA in music and is will be pursuing my MA in Musicology in the fall, I'm a bit of a music nerd. This was a long time coming, but here it is. Please enjoy!

Aries:

Schubert - Symphony No. 8, “Unfinished” (1822)

The DRAMA. But seriously, this symphony is so beautiful. It’s beautiful balanced, it occasionally has huge outbursts of drama and sudden dynamic changes. It frequently modulates to major which provides a nice balance to the otherwise minor work. It goes from dramatically chaotic and quick to a calm waltz-like melody. The work itself only has two movements, hence it being nicknamed the “Unfinished” symphony. These sudden changes in mood, the short-lived dramatic/passionate outbursts, and the fact that this work was left unfinished is what lead me to associate this with Aries. Their outbursts rarely last long, they often leave things unfinished, and they can be a bit dramatic at times.

Taurus:

Beethoven - Symphony No. 7 (1811-12)

An amazingly stable and consistent work with subtle hints of sensitivity. It has incredibly driving rhythms which I think can be compared to the stubbornness of a Taurus. There is some drama, as with much of this music but it’s much more calm in this case. It’s driving but in a way that feels more like a steady, determined walk than a climatic charge forward. This work was composed when Beethoven was working on improving his heath in a Bohemian spa town. This is a creative work born from a time when the composer was working on his self-care. Sound familiar?

Gemini:

Elgar - Enigma Variations (1898-99)

This isn’t a symphony, but this is something full of orchestral works so I’m including it anyway because it seems appropriate. This work consists of fourteen different variations on a theme, each variation represents someone in Elgar’s close circle of friends. There’s a wide variety of sounds in this work, similar to the way Geminis can easily switch between topics. Additionally, this work reflects the importance of the friends which Elgar had in his life, similar to how a Gemini’s complexity and occasional bubbliness can lead to popularity. I had the hardest time figuring out what work to give Gemini.

Cancer:

Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique” (1893)

The Russian title of this symphony is “Патетическая” meaning “passionate” or “emotional.” It’s truly a work that tug’s on one’s heart strings, and it’s quite dramatic. Tchaikovsky himself had a hard time composing the work and even tore up the manuscript at least once when he was doubting his abilities. It’s said that his brother Modest suggested the title after hearing it. When it was time for first perform the work Tchaikovsky was quite excited about it. The emotions surrounding this work and the beautiful emotional roller coaster it takes you on when listening to it are wholly appropriate for the sign ruled by the Moon. (Tchaikovsky, unfortunately, died 9 days after premiering this work)

Leo:

Semtana - Má vlast (1874-79)

This is technically a set of 6 symphonic poems, not a symphony. However, this work is a representation of the Czech composer’s intense pride in his homeland (hence the title, “Má vlast” = “My homeland”) and everything he loves about it from the course of the Vltava to the warrior Šárka and the legend of the Blaník mountain. The beautiful harp opening of the first poem and the immense pride and love you can hear from the brass and strings. Although the emphasis (and love) of home that this work has almost leans into Cancer territory, it’s the pride and the occasional fanfare-ish instrumentation that makes me say Leo.

Virgo:

Mozart - Symphony No. 25 (1773)

There’s no programmatic backstory with this one but the clear organization of this work while cleanly organizing various themes screams Virgo to me. It’s not too extensive, everything is clean cut and in its place. It opens a bit dramatically but it never develops too intensely. There were, indeed, risks taken which are interesting for the time it was written, however, nothing was too extreme because the crowd at its debut still absolutely loved this work.

Libra:

Haydn - Symphony No. 104, “London” (1795)

This opens with a monothematic movement (a movement that uses one theme as a basis for the entire thing). It has the occasional drama to draw in your attention, but overall it’s simply a very well balanced, easygoing piece of music. Some may refer to it as boring but it’s still beautiful and well written with some subtle innovations to keep the listener entertained and to keep the work interesting. It never gets too gritty, sticks to traditional form and remains as beautiful as ever. Even at its most suspenseful, it remains light.

Scorpio:

Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique (1830)

I was originally gonna list this as Pisces because most of this is a prime example of escapism and living in an opium induced dream. However, the drama, extremes, and obsessiveness of this work scream Scorpio. This may be a dream but it doesn’t end well, he actually dreams of his own doom and of his soul being dragged to hell before being taunted by witches. This work transforms from a quiet dreamy opening to a light dance movement then eventually it becomes a dramatic work reflecting the beheading of the main character and the damnation of his soul--all of which is tied together by the idée fixe. It’s appropriate for Scorpio if you ask me.

Sagittarius:

Dvořák - Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” (1893)

This work is inspired by the experiences that Dvořák had while living in the United States in the 1890s. It draws influence from the music he heard across the US from various cultures (namely Black Americans and Natives). Some of the music he heard while in the States reminded him of music he heard in some European countries. He was influenced by not only the music but also the things that he saw. The blending of cultures and experiences that he does in this work is truly worthy of being associated with Sagittarius if you ask me.

Capricorn:

Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 4, “Fate” (1877-78)

I honestly love this symphony, it has a lot going on in it and it’s beautiful. It was dedicated to Tchaikovsky’s best friend Nadezhna von Meck, which was quite something at the time because it meant he was acknowledging her to be his equal. Tchaikovsky stated that the opening of this work is representative of the the ways the universe prevents one from attaining their happiness. He says that there’s no way to escape this reality and one just has to take it as it is, “no haven exists.” He also incorporates traditional Russian themes into the final movement, a touch of tradition. This heavy emphasis on the grimness of reality as well as the dedication to a friend he was long loyal to, is all Capricorn.

Aquarius:

Beethoven - Symphony No. 3, “Sinfonia Eroica” (1803-04)

This work was dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, the man which Beethoven believed to embody the anti-monarchal ideals of the French Revolution (at some point he even titled the work “Buonaparte”). It’s a representation of heroics (eroica=heroic), being someone who saves the people and works for the greater good. A work dedicated to the idea of revolution while also being a landmark piece in western music history? What could be more Aquarian?

Pisces:

Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade (1888)

This is another one that isn’t technically a symphony, it’s actually a symphonic suite. It opens big and includes a well known violin solo, the texture frequently changes in this work. It was intentionally written to create a sensation of fantasy, like a dream. The composer intentionally avoided creating movement titles that were too specific, and instead decided he wanted to create titles which were more vague. He wanted the listener to hear this work as something vaguely themed, he wanted it to take the listeners through a fairytale. The only thing he kept clear was the main title “Scheherazade” because he wanted the listeners to know the main inspiration for the style in which he wrote this work. The vagueness and the elements of some fantastical story is undoubtedly Piscean.

Some Hollywood hotties – past and present – reading books.

1) Marlon Brando.

2) Benedict Cumberbatch reading Love’s Labour’s Lost.

3) Tony Perkins reading Look Homeward Angel.

4) Charlie Hunnam reading… anything.

5) Joseph Gordan-Levitt reading Kenneth Anger’s Hollywood Babylon.

6) Paul Newman reading The Garrick Year, by Margaret Drabble.

7) Gregory Peck, not surprisingly, posed with To Kill a Mockingbird.

8) Farley Granger reading The Edge of Doom, by Leo Grady. (Farley starred in the 1950 film.)

9) River Phoenix reading War and Peace.

10) James Dean reading poetry by James Whitcomb Riley.

The most under-appreciated film in history has to be The Prince of Egypt. I mean, I don’t care if you follow the religion, this a good fucking movie.

I mean, look at the love they put into the Egyptian culture and hieroglyphics: 

Everybody is actually a realistic color of where they live:

ThE MOTHERFUCKING ART THEY PUT INTO THIS MOVIE

The fucking music alone won a fucking oscar people:

The fucking cast like have you seen this line-up???:

Strong female characters:

And last but not least - THE. MOTHER. FUCKING. BEAUTIFUL. HAIR:

and best of all, even though it’s based off of a bible story, it isn’t trying to ram god down your throat. legit the whole movie is about loving yourself and others

Arielle Dombasle

Il materiale di origine: @lilygavin, @montassaralaia @rupertfriend, @emmanuelle.seigner (Instagram) / Photos from the set of At Eternity’s Gate filmed in Arles, Provence, and Saint-Rémy, France. (2017) #myedit

Strategy List (Part I)

For those that have zero knowledge of strategy, this is where I recommend starting.

Continua a leggere

Behind the scenes A Room With a View (1985)

Beautiful Viking inspired designs from Sergey Arzamastsev

70s Disco moodboard ✨

russian classics aesthetic

Brothers Karamazov: orthodox monasteries, deep woods, starry nights, the sound of paper being torn, dimly lit rooms, withered roses, an unfinished letter, piles of books, the sound of shattering glass, ticking of clocks in a silent house, heavy wooden furniture, the air before a storm, the smell of earth, a crowd of people dressed in black, distant murmurs, emptied streets, the fear of walking alone in dusk

Crime and Punishment: coldness of the skin against a blade, slender pale fingers and slightly shaking hands, a red stain blooming on white fabric, lonely steps in a corridor, the slow dripping of water, looking out of the window into the thickening darkness, a single dying candle on the table, listening to one’s breath and counting heartbeats, too many stairs, the desire to be invisible, a subtle memory of kind word

The Idiot: classical statues, wealth covered with dust, a dark house tainted with inherited madness, an unsettling feeling, long walks in a park, useless chatter, a silken ribbon forgotten on a bench, a melancholic face, an unexpected spring rain, the joy of reading one’s favorite book, the clarity of mind after fully perceiving the world around, looking at cloudless sky  

Anna Karenina: fields of crops, flowers brought from an early morning walk, the wind caressing a girl’s hair, a bowl of fruit, the smell of ripe pears, the clatter of a spoon against porcelain when stirring tea, children’s laughter coming from the garden, soft sunlight and white curtains, the sensation of velvet against skin, pearls from a ripped necklace spilling on marble floor, a sudden silence in a room full of people

War and Peace: a glass of wine, the brightness of  a crystal chandelier, white lace, a raging snow storm, the sound of a door being gently closed, the moment of holding one’s breath before walking in a ball room, indulging in looking at a beautiful earring against light, the sound of a saber being drawn, closing one’s eyes for a moment while dancing, the sweet smell of strawberries, a pair of gloves left on an armchair, light scent of powder

The Master and Margarita: the chaos of a lively city, ambient jazz in expensive restaurants, jumping on a moving tram, the sight of Moscow from the roof of a house, yellow flowers in a vase, leaning out of the window, shelves stacked with books, a small tin box with old photographs, strange shapes in the night sky, laughing in the middle of the night on a balcony, colorful posters for a surreptitious magician’s show floating in the wind

Eugene Onegin: a lonely mansion, reading a book in the parlor, faint piano melody lingering in falling silence, long evenings, passing seasons, discussing french novels of the moment, unspoken thoughts, leaning against the door frame, quickly averted glance, eating a peach absent-minded, bright mornings, footprints in snow, a loud gun-shot terrifying a flock of birds nearby   

A Hero of Our Time: byronic boredom, getting up late in the afternoon, the hidden unspeakable sadness of existence, shakespeare’s tragedy opened next to untouched breakfast, cigarette smoke, polished boots, walking with one’s coat wide open letting the night chill break through to the bone, carved wooden chair, fading warmth of the ashes late in the evening, the thought of farewell  

Fathers and Sons: birch groves, morning mist, moss covered stones near a  moor, scientific books, white roses, cheap champagne, shabby pocket-watch, light-hearted irony, a maladroit cello sonata, freshly mowed grass, leaving thoughts come and go, a slow yawn, picturesque plates and bowls filled with traditional dishes, drinking tea on the porch, longing for the future   

Doctor Zhivago: a strange feeling of loss, writing poems in a diary, traveling by train, the hesitation before touching someone’s hand, the gaze of one lost in thought, the warmth of cinnamon, a scarf brightly embellished with flowers, a glass of water, two people listening each on the other side of the door, a threadbare jacket, the tempting void, the evanescent serenity of yesterday  

Dead Souls: horses in a merry gallop, delicious smells mingled, grotesque and bizarre tragedy, luxurious attire cheap soul, masks, a perfumed love letter, the triumph of sarcasm, an unattached wheel rolling down a dusty road, the atmosphere of commedia dell’ arte, puzzling speeches, a baffling caricature drawn on a handkerchief   

Cherry Orchard: a lone chair in an empty room, falling blossoms, old samovar, the unsettling need for change, a mirror reflecting full moon, the disappointment of a glossy object turning worthless after second glance, a piano out of tune