6.4.06

… and then there was music.


Khachaturian, of course.
The piano concertos. A marriage between east and west. A hidden oriental nostalgia. A yearning. A melancholia. Always reminding me of Beirut. but old Beirut. that of my grandfather in fact. The ottomans, the richness, the faded pictures, the old smells, the potpourri and the mothballs. Old pianos. Small little things, and a thousand stories…
An ancient beiruty house. A ballroom, empty of everything expect a piano, an old white piano, ivory touches, and a hint of blue on the body…
Khatchaturian, the masquerade. Waltz. Nocturne. Mazurka. Romance. Galop. A Russian ball. Tolstoy. The splendor. The magnificence. The luxury. The excess. The dresses with the laces. The military costumes. And the dancing. They come together. They separate. They dance a Mazurka.
Khatchaturian, the ballets. Spartacus. The victory dance. Gayaneh. Sabre dance. Fast, stupefying. Frantic…
Definitely my favorite.

9 comments:

Laila K said...

so nostalgic gus..i love the romance..

FZ said...

I had a thin, dark blue book of Katchaturian, but can't remember exactly which piece it was-- fast,whirling, frantic, yes! The atmosphere you evoke is wonderful...

Ghassan said...

Thanks!
Laila, how's the weather in leb now?
fz, was it for piano?

FZ said...

yes, piano. i think it was one of the dances. i loved the piece and my fingers were in much better shape than now. i've never played on a white piano-- that would've been incredible. you know, I think it has been 17 years since I opened that book! :)

Fouad said...

Khatchaturian's music is truly wonderful. Thanks you for this beautiful reminder..

Unknown said...

the ancient house, the excess, the dresses with the laces... i like it

Hashem said...

that a picture afer a picture...
I could actually swear I was hearing the music....
smelling the old Beirut...
Ghassan,
what is this romance? in love?;)

Ghassan said...

No. romance is just kind of a short piece, in a certain style... not the in love kind of romance :))

Unknown said...

hey man are you there?