The Melting of the Ice - Prelude

 

Fully charged                                                                         

phones to bed

 

and in my ears

Finlandia,

all cello dread

and turbulent.

 

Fully charged             

phones to bed;

catnaps anticipate

 

a tempest, or a fanfare?

Something gathers

on the hills.     

                                                                       

Fully charged

phones to bed

 

x at the end of every sibling text

surprises;

we only ever see each other Christmas.

 

Fully charged

phones to bed

 

Finlandia

all cello dread

and brass intent

awakens.

 

 

 

 

◄ Performance Medley

Tableau 1: Return of the Snow Queen ►

Comments

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Laura Taylor

Tue 18th Aug 2015 14:23

Howdy Cynth :)

Ha, well I have a confession to make. Although I've been a total music anorak for almost all my life, I never really 'got' classical. It wasn't around me, I never listened to it, and the only time I did it was coming in or out of assembly in primary school.

So hearing Finlandia had a massive effect on me. Not only did it sound EXACTLY how I was feeling, it was also the first real bit of classical music I had ever liked. It's kickstarted a total obsession btw - I am listening to classical AND Finlandia itself all the time now!

Your deal sounds ace btw :D

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Tue 18th Aug 2015 12:01

OK,Laura. I'm back in business with a fixed computer once more. I'm starting at the beginning.

BTW, Sibelius' 'Finlandia' was the first major classical piece that blew my mind when I was fifteen. I accepted a baby-sitting job regularly because this family had the record. When the kids were finally put to bed, the HiFi was MINE. And I made extensive use of it. All that privilege and a bit of money too. It was a good deal.

You sure are cerebral. My compliments. My envy.

Glen Gould for a quid! I was thinking of him only two days ago. Small world.

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Laura Taylor

Tue 18th Aug 2015 09:37

Many thanks for reading and taking the time to comment Martin, appreciate that.

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Martin Elder

Mon 17th Aug 2015 19:56

Have you also 'seen something nasty in the wood shed' then Stu.
I love both of theses poems Laura and looked forward to the others. Return of the snow queen was particularly moving.

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Laura Taylor

Mon 17th Aug 2015 09:32

Heh - cold comfort farm!

Thanks Stu, and nice one on the vinyl!

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Stu Buck

Sat 15th Aug 2015 14:34

'something gathers on the hills'

dont know why, but i cant read this without thinking of aunt ada doom from cold comfort farm.

lovely poem and nicely foreboding. also topical, as i picked up glenn gould plays sibelius on vinyl for a quid yesterday!

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Laura Taylor

Sat 15th Aug 2015 12:54

This is the first part of a series of five interconnecting poems. Recent events in my life were preceded by hearing Finlandia, by Jean Sibelius, on the radio, and it so completely described how I was feeling that it took me over, and informs the whole series.

As a big nod to Sibelius, I've decided to use a loosely-based symphonic structure, so the parts are laid out like this:

The Melting of the Ice

Movements:

1. Prelude
2. Tableau 1: Return of the Snow Queen
3. Tableau 2: Night of Years
4. Tableau 3: Tempest
5. Tableau 4: The Melting of the Ice

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