Tristan?
Why Tristan? you might ask and well, if you know me (and I think you do since you're reading this) you'll know that it's a reference to the lead character in Richard Wagner's Music Drama "Tristan und Isolde". Besides the obvious reasons about its importance in the history of music and as the summit of romanticism, Tristan und Isolde stands as a monument to love.
Wagner an Liszt (Herbst 1854):
»da ich im Leben nie das eigentliche Glück der Liebe genossen habe, so will ich diesem schönsten aller Träume noch ein Denkmal setzen, in dem von Anfang bis zum Ende diese Liebe sich einmal so recht sättigen soll; ich habe im Kopfe einen Tristan und Isolde entworfen, die einfachste, aber vollblutigste musikalische Konzeption; mit der schwarzen Flagge, die am Ende weht, will ich mich dann zudecken - um zu sterben.«
‘Since I myself have never experienced the true happiness of love’, Wagner wrote in December 1854, ‘I intend to erect another monument to this most beautiful of all dreams, in which, from beginning to end, this love will for once be truly satiated: in my head I have sketched a Tristan and Isolde, the simplest but most full-blooded musical conception; and in the “black flag” hoist at the end, I will wrap myself—to die.’
Wagner refers not to love in a physical sense or even in a spiritual sense but in a way that combines these two, where two people are really one and difference are meaningless. The 1865 part is of course the year that it was premiered (though it had been composed 6 years before).
Parsifal
Lately, I've been insanely infatuated with Wagner's last work: "Parsifal". I have been listening to it every time I have the slightest chance to do so. It's almost obsessive behaviour but it's hard to resist its magnificent beauty and the supreme profoundness of this work. Many people claim that this is a "Christian" work but I completely disagree. How could a "Christian" work openly talk about reincarnation. This work is more buddhist than Christian, despite the heavy religious symbolism (The Holy Grail, the Spear that pierced Jesus, the washing of the feet, the baptism etc.). Wagner does not present a world where man is the master of nature and where the rest of the animal kingdom has been put on earth with the specific goal of serving man. In fact, Wagner openly spoke (and wrote) against vivisectionism and is known to have had several pets which he treated with love and care (his last dog lies buried besides its Master at Haus Wahnfried in Bayreuth).
Parsifal is a work that is about so many things and where its message is beautifully conveyed by its music. Glorious but simple, with grandeur but that doesn't feel out of place. In short, words would fail to describe the different emotions that it arises in its listeners and it's something that is best left for people to experience by themselves so if you get a chance don't hesitate to listen to this work and marvel at its beauty.
Land of the free
Considerable controversy has been surrounding several issues related to Iraq in the american media. People seem to be more upset about the fact that evil deeds were recorded (in the form of pictures) for everyone to see, than about the fact that these atrocious behaviour has been shown by american soldiers. It's hard to believe that some people actually support this unnecessary and unilateral invasion. Now that the truth has come to light and that it's been shown that american soldiers are just as barbaric as the people that they are supposed to be replacing I believe it's time for everyone to realize that this course of action is not only immoral but it's also illegal.
Iraq never posed a real threat to America, it was however tempting to invade it for two reasons:
1.- As a personal revenge on the part of GWB (avenging his father)
2.- Oil
As history has shown time and again, Religious and Economic power are evil forces that threaten peace on earth and that we might just blow ourselves to pieces and with us the whole planet. Roughly 4 billion years that our planet has existed will vanish in a second if we don't realize that this stupid quest for power and (religious and economic) supremacy could prove to be our downfall.
I guess it's only humans that could destroy the earth with our actions. Animals would never do that. Perhaps they are more evolved than us.
What a contrast: Parsifal and Iraq. There is however a link... Gamuret (Parsifal's father) died in battle in the Middle East (most probably in Arabia). He was fighting to defend Christianity while trying to obliterate people who dared to think differently. I guess some things never change.