Solo, the word coming from Italy, means 'alone', 'only'.
Musically definition: A piece played by one performer, or a piece for one melody instrument with accompaniment. (A quotation from Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians)
I remembered that night, when I was alone, I played a record. The pieces for solo piano. The sound soon comes to me, which is the only sound in my room. Suddenly I feel like, the playing music is the only thing I ever have, at this moment. The music flowed smoothly, I was surrounded by it, and that did comforts me.
From that night, I couldn't help to be attracted by this word, fascinated by it. Solo.
這些表面看似平靜的音樂,總讓我覺得帶點莫名傷感,於是立刻聯想到楊納傑克(Janacek)的「荒草漫延的小徑」(On an overgrown path/ Par les sentiers broussailleux)。 純真的旋律就像在夢裡,但隨著樂句變得越來越破碎,你發現那是作曲家的哽咽聲,原來那是他難以企及的美夢,他的悼亡女之歌。
友人K赴日旅遊,只買了一張CD。他說,妳知道的,Keith Jarrett封面有玫瑰的那張。其實我對Jarrett先生的認識,僅限於大家都知道的傳奇經典-柯隆音樂會,以及某次出於好奇買的,演奏宗教聖歌那張,但我猜他說的大概就是「Death and the Flower」,如右圖示。K在旅程中反覆聆聽,那張買來作個紀念的專輯。於是當他結束旅程,再聽那音樂時,就又好像回到在東京的時光。所以,為什麼總要拍個幾百張照片,在下次旅行前也還整理不完?用耳朵和喜歡的音樂儲存旅行吧。
Goodbye To All That by The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group
from the album Sniff
My friend K took a trip to Japan, he brought only one CD back. He said, "You know, it's Keith Jarrett's album, cover with a rose that one." Actually I don't know much about Jarrett, unless the legendary The Köln Concert, and bought an album that he played sacred hymns of G.I. Gurdjieff (only by curiosity). But I'm sure that what he bought is 'Death and the Flower', as his souvenir. He listened and listened this album during his trip. In the end, when he back from the trip and played that album again, he found he's back to his time in Tokyo.
So, why we waste time in shooting hundreds of pictures? You don't even have time to put them into your photo books! Try carring your favorite music, then memorized your voyage by your ears.
Another summer night, I took brisk steps on my way home. I chose the music by an indie band 'Flin Flon' to walk with me. Suddenly, I heard their song "Ukraina" and some memories soon came out. I'm back to the time when we still have a large record shop, the time when we don't have MP3s and still buying CDs. And I'm back to the time when I still working in a record shop, in one summer afternoon, while we were gathering to check CDs. We were listening to this kind of music when we work, not knowing the CDs and people here would be separated in some years latter.
We listened to the music all day, we share everything about music and work to each other. Everything is pure pleasure. The first job I truly in love with. When I had to leave the job, (they need a full time, I can't) I cried and cried, tears over my way to school, tears in my failed test paper.
Now, it's the end of the music. In the memory, faces of these people became faint, but the light and the warm of the afternoon are well memorized in my skin. Anyway, just play another song, though memories are not so easy to reveal, and some we don't really want to recall.
.Wonderful taste in Jazz .Friendly and generous MP3 links (Listen before you read the "welcome jazz lovers", and be careful! You will purchase all the records!) .First hand live report .Proof that music is universal