Lens-Artists Challenge #416 – Music

The main thing is to let your creativity loose and capture a moment that really shows the spirit of the music, Ritva says. Well, my music is mostly played in my house – and from an ordinary cd-player. Concerts are very seldom on the agenda. It’s not easy to get a dog- sitter Saturday nights…So, I knew I would have to struggle with this challenge, but I finally came up with these old photos.




Music and concerts offer a great escape to many of us. At least for a moment. This is Camelot and its brilliant singer, Roy Cahn. The group was a favourite with our two younsters for some years, (I liked them too) and we took the car up to Norway to listen to them live.

Lodz Light Move Festival in 2018 – (and a ghost to the left…) was a real treat both visually and orally.

Every Midsummer’s Eve in Sweden, old and young dance around the maypole to traditional music from the violin and the accordion. The youngest are the happiest ones!

Some of the ABBA gold and platina collection in Stockholm at the ABBA museum. Thank you for the Music!

More festivals abroad – they can be quite genuine and lovely. Old musicians are usually the best. I totally love the Edinburgh Tattoo but have no pictures because it was raining too much.

Some music can be hard to really appreciate – Chinese opera is one of those and Bhutanese festival music is another. If you didn’t grow up with this kind of music, it takes time and effort to understand it.

Music can be a passion – and it is – for those musicians who make their livelihood from it.

Happy energy on the Dahlia festival in Holland!

One of the first experiences with making music was by filling glasses of water and playing with my hands – I am still impressed every time I come across it! It can be so easy…my children used to do it too.

Many thanks to Anne for her wonderful theme! I think we all liked it – which was evident in the posts I saw. And for this week’s challenge, please don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag in your posts so people can find you in the WP Reader.

Next week, Egídio is giving us a new challenge that I am sure you do not want to miss. Check out his site and the WP reader at noon EST in the USA.

Lens-Artists Challenge #297 – Music to My Eyes

Egidio is leading a challenge made for real music lovers this week – and I have chosen two of the most loved songs in my book, Morning Has Broken and What a Wonderful World. Be sure to visit his beautiful site for more inspiration. And, if you are participating, please link to the original post and add the Lens-Artist tag.

Morning Has Broken – is a Christian hymn first published in 1931. It has words by English author Eleanor Farjeon and was inspired by the village of Alfriston in East Sussex, then set to a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune, ”Bunessan”. Cat Stevens made it popular all over the world. This song I consider to be one of the most beautiful ones ever written. My children know I want it for my funeral. In Cat Steven’s interpretation.

What a Wonderful World – was written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released in 1967 as a single. In April 1968, it topped the pop chart in the United Kingdom, but in the United States the president of ABC Records disliked the song and refused to promote it.

After it was heard in the film Good Morning, Vietnam, it rose to number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. Armstrong’s recording was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Louis Armstrong – I always hear his grainy, harsh voice whenever I feel overwhelmed by nature, grand landscapes and its beauty, silence and serenity. His voice is the perfect choice for every moment…

It is a wonderful world in every detail…

big or small…

from the tiniest dew drop …

to the abundance in flowers…

colours…



and animals. And everything and everyone new to the world is soft…

fragrant…

and wonderfully fresh.

My Swedish favourites I had to leave out…but I have some there too of course. Songs from our own language are special, and like all other lyrical texts, cannot be translated properly with their original feeling. In the Scandinavian countries you often find a melancholical touch with music written in a minor key. Music for magical summer nights and autumn colours.

Last week we had Ritva making us post abstract photos – and it was really an eye-opener on how many abstracts we really make! Thank you for a great challenge!

Next week it is Tina’s turn to host, be sure to visit her magical site for more inspiration. Until then – stay calm and be kind.

Thursday Thoughts – Memories From A Year Ago

I thought I would share some memories posted in January 2017 – My dream trip to Quito, the Amazon Basin and Galapagos. Let us start in Quito – a city of festivities that week!

An unforgettable journey with lovely people – and a country I would more than love to return to.

 

Vega de San Mateo – A Colourful Market

Fond memories from Gran Canaria include the colourful farmers’ market in the village Vega de San Mateo. Every Sunday the farmers come in to sell their crops, art and craft.

I still enjoy looking at the many colourful people, spices, fruits and vegetables, sitting here this grey winter in Skåne.

And the Band! They played gorgeous classical music, jazz and popular music – and they were many and Very Good. I wish we could have stayed longer.

Nicest Restaurant in Sofia?

During our four days in Sofia, we had some delicious food. Eating Bulgarian was of course a must – and here is a short view of our favourite restaurant!

Hadjidraganov´s Cellars in the centre of Sofia, close to the main street Vitosha, is indeed worth a visit. Excellent Bulgarian food and not expensive at all. Rustic furniture, lovely people and live music in the evenings as well. A must if you visit Sofia!

 

Parks and Alleys – Light is Everywhere

For five years Łódź has been hosting the Light Move Festival, and last year there were 50 000 visitors. I can understand why. Let us count down…and walk with the crowd!

Many planets and clouds moving –

And, let us count down again…and have a spooky walk in the park…with wild animals, hanging tree witches and other creatures!

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What about giant shining flowers made of plastic bottles? Or the traditional balloons!

In the big square we enjoyed the Grand Finale – The Rossman Building and the cathedral, dancing and moving in spectacular light shows …The short movies are on my Facebook and on Instagram – it is not possible to transmit the feeling with only photos…

My favourite birds though…over there to the right. Then we finished off with our own ”Rosegarden”, sparkling in the darkness. It has got a special and very touching story – go to Viveka at Myguiltypleasures to read it! Good night to you all!

 

Varekai – Cirque du Soleil

Ever since I first saw Cirque du Soleil on TV…I have wanted to see them. And I did, some years ago. And, I was not disappointed.

This year they were back in Malmö, with astonishing Varekai – Tales of the Forest. With that title, I was already mesmerized. And the story of Icaros is a story I read as a child as well as a grown-up. These old stories always teach us about life – and for making the story come alive, I cannot think of a better way than this – Cirque du Soleil!

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https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/varekai

No flash or filming allowed, so these are the posters, and in the header, the scene before opening. The Forest, dense with trees, and the staircase leading up to a path under the ceiling.

Icaros falls to the ground, in the Forest on top of a volcano. All the creatures living here…can make anything happen…

Founded in 1984 in Canada, they tour the world every year and their success and their prizes are innumerable. If you have not seen them before…I urge you to go. It is the  ultimate art performance. The ultimate dresses, make up, music, acrobatic stunts, stories and… Life!

 

Black & White Sunday: Music

A great, festive day in Quito, with music and dancing in the streets. This local band was really good, and people of all ages danced and had fun. Wish there could be a little bit more of that here, in Sweden!

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Designers and Designs for Swedish Artists

Last week I went to a local museum to see a travelling exhibition with some of our famous designers’ clothes made for Swedish artists and singers.

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Katarina de Bourg made the clothes for our young  Japan export – Yohio. His androgynous style is not as popular here as in Japan, where he is a big star. He is greatly influenced by the Japanese genre visual kei.

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Yohio participated in Eurovision Song Contest 2013 and 2014.

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Another colourful group is Army of Lovers, with their almost Arabian Nights – style.

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Camilla Thulin is renowned for having designed all of Army of Lovers‘ outfits.

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Thulin also designed Malena Ernman‘s gown worn during her Eurovision Song Contest 2009 performance (reported to have cost  €37,471).

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A much loved artist and singer from up north, Roger Pontare, is of Sami origin. He has represented Sweden twice in Eurovision Song Contest.

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Sarah Mårskog successfully designed his shaman- inspired clothes.

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Altogether an inspiring exhibition, where I picked some of my favourites for you. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did.