tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916966280753281829.post-18975707538004207122007-12-18T12:36:00.000-08:002007-12-18T12:38:57.910-08:0018 December 2007<br />Mark Twain<br />United States of America<br /><br />Dear Mark,<br /><br />The days have been very busy as of late, as you may have guessed. I have had a schedule not unlike what I’m used to in the United States: concerts, rehearsals, lectures, recording sessions, meetings; it’s been quite invigorating, most especially since this is occurring 8 times zones from home.<br /><br />Russians are an interesting breed; I believe that they are, either through nature or nurture (not quite sure which…), ones that need to examine everything in it’s relation to fate and the grand scheme of the cosmos. They seem to have a desire to understand things on a philosophical level, but are also ready to accept what they learn as fate and not to question it’s authority or their given place, be it miniscule, in this universe. This is a very interesting combination for a Westerner like myself, who believes in the exaltation of the individual as the center of one’s universe and creative impetus, to fathom.<br /><br />Let’s take for instance my recent lectures for the US Consulate. I was asked to present lectures to both Russian students and adults (on different occasions) to discuss with them about American culture. I was to tell them about my career as a composer and performer, and then answer whatever questions they may have about art and music and what not. The questions began almost immediately on very philosophical (if not ‘pop’ philosophical) topics and got deeper and deeper. Questions about my inspirations and psychology as a creative individual (which were scary enough by themselves…) quickly moved to my thoughts on whether good and evil are absolutes and also on antimatter’s influence on disharmony…<br /><br />…what was that again?…<br /><br />They also approached it from the point of view that they were lonely humans and that creative people were closer to the divine and must have vastly different lives from themselves that they could never begin to understand. I kept saying “no, really, I’m just like you…” with replies of “no, tell us, do you dream your creations? Or, do you speak to God directly? What is your philosophy on life; tell us so that we may learn?”. Again, I answer “no, really, I’m just a guy. This is my job…it’s what I’m trained to do-it’s hard work, practice, and craftsmanship; I’m just like you-this is just how I not only express myself but also how I earn a living”. And again “but the great masters have been different from us, as you must be…where do you find your greatest inspiration?”. My answer, “the ‘great masters’, as you call them, regardless of the ‘artistic genius’ press, are just people and need to be understood that way, not as gods separated from humanity. Some of the best things I have written came in front of the television watching (American) football and drinking beer-had Beethoven had television, he probably would’ve written the 5th Symphony this way, though maybe not admitted to it-Mozart would not only have admitted to it, he’d be damn proud of the fact!”<br /><br />This last statement didn’t go over well…I thought I was going to be burned as a heretic…but, they just looked at me, trying to decide if I was hiding something…<br /><br />Granted, I like talking philosophy, especially if I have a captive audience in a full auditorium listening to everything I’m saying, but please, this was too much…and, after the concert I gave the next week (in the same venue) the crowd pelted me with the same types of questions…some were the same folks, but many were new…they didn’t let me leave until the venue had to be closed for the evening…<br /><br />“I’m happy that my opinion is so important to you, but you have lives of your own-you’re all individuals, as perfect AND flawed as everyone else on this planet-no one is greater than another-potential is in all.” This, if I may be so bold to say, seems to be the biggest issue of this society: the need to be led and told where they belong. The ‘free thinkers’ tend to be pushed out of society (and run to the West)…these, of course, are the circle of friends which I have found here…the ones who do think as individuals and wish that the vast majority of Russians would follow suit. The potential is marvelous here if they would…as a society, they are most certainly extremely well educated. They just need 10,000cc of Humanism…<br /><br />Well, speaking of my circles, I have to tell you that I recorded my second CD of the Fall today. The first, as you may remember, was in Athens in October. I recorded a number of new works by Greek composers, led by my friends Nickos Harizanos and Manolis Manousakis. I received the master copy yesterday, and I must say that it sounds good…of course, the music is good, and that helps considerably. I’m looking forward to the finished product!<br /><br />Today, I recorded with my friend Galina Parfionova. Galina and I have presented some performances together here. She is an Ancient/ Medieval vocalist who specializes in overtone singing, which is really hip! If you want to know what it sounds like when a Russian Medievalist and a Greek-American Experimentalist are locked in a studio together to improvise for an afternoon, you’ll have to listen to the new disc, because words can not begin to explain this…and I tried…we basically took cues from each other, interacted within our individual styles (which are complimentary…more on this later), and just went for it. I did compose two electronic ‘drones’ (based on ‘elemental’ concepts) to use as, well, drones to improvise over, which worked well. It’s interesting: if you take really old music and compare it with really new music, the similarities and parallels are very interesting. These are closer to each other then to anything ‘in between’, like the Common Practice Period, which is really a striking departure and mostly unrelated.<br /><br />So we edit in two days-should be very hip!<br /><br />Anyways, that is the story for now. I have to say once again that I am meeting some incredibly interesting people here and am thankful for the opportunity to do so. Everyone whom I have met on a one-on-one basis has been considerably kind and considerate and well-meaning.<br /><br />To be honest, it does make me thankful for the life that I have in the US (and in the West, in general). I wrote quite a lot on Thanksgiving a couple of weeks back; I don’t know how much we realize just how thankful we should be for our lives and our society. Being here really makes me think about this…constantly…as I walk down the streets of St. Petersburg or read their newspapers…I can only appreciate what I have been blessed with, and be forever thankful.<br /><br />Until next time,<br /><br />DemetriusDemetrius Spaneashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04527904613791909714noreply@blogger.com