Oh how many good and interesting people there are all around me, how much of goodness and kindness there is in this world. They say, this world is better than we feel it is....
This night I was browsing YouTube, watching Pixar-related videos, and somehow, just accidentally, I reached a page with different videos about hunting and hunters.... and then once again I praised all those disasters, diseases, catastrophes, wars, and most of all - Natural Rages that annihilate and turn into nothing all that biological rubbish called Human Being. The Earth tries to clear Herself from that multibillion filth, She groans and gasps for breath. Most likely She will prevail sooner or later: a Human Being does not deserve walking upon Her.
They also sometimes say regarding good people that "this world still exists because of them", which means that "if this world still exists then somebody deserves it still".
Cry those tears, then dry those tired eyes:
every breath you take keeps you alive.
Butterflies as we are
freeze in flight beneath the starry sky
but the ghosts fly on and on...
in this sense we all belong,
oh, Gaia!
And the sum of all the parts
is the all-forgiving heart
of Gaia.
Oh, Gaia!
(Peter Hammill, "Gaia", 1992)
Mother-Earth, you have all rights to not forgive us for what we do to You!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
On Translations - part 5
I wasn't clear saying that I am doing a "rhymed" translation of 'The Climber'. It should be mentioned here that The Climber is not rhymed in principle (being a songstory). I meant not that I am going to rhyme what has not been rhymed, but that I was going to bring the Russian translation phonetically and rhythmically as closer to the English original as possible. And this is another story.
One more addition to be done: 'a songstory' term was actually suggested by John Ellis. Judge substantiated that musical form and approved the suggested term, to actively use it further on.
P.S. This Judge Smith's essay has been translated into Russian. Probably tomorrow everything will be ready to be web-published....
One more addition to be done: 'a songstory' term was actually suggested by John Ellis. Judge substantiated that musical form and approved the suggested term, to actively use it further on.
P.S. This Judge Smith's essay has been translated into Russian. Probably tomorrow everything will be ready to be web-published....
Life Milestones
Are there any absolute, common for all age milestones on our life timeline? I think many people reflect in that direction. I fell there is something of that kind, and that I have passed two of those milestones.
The First Milestone.... Although probably our first milestone was someplace there, at a very young age, but we do not realise that consciously, and infants do not need that vanity at all. OK, my first milestone is 21. When I turned 21 I felt some incredible lift-up. I thought I could do everything I would want, any kind of undertaking. I found my future wife in that age and introduced my girlfriend to my family (believe me, all of those who knew me by that time were in shock). Over the years, growing older and meeting failures I started thinking that one can achieved nothing in his life at all, if started later than when he is 21.
The Second Milestone - 40. It has been more that 6 months since I celebrated my 40th birthday, so here is what I happened to collect of what I feel.
- desire to live in an absolutely white (walls) room, with minimum of items around (a computer table with a wheeled armchair, a TV set, audio/video players, obligatory shelves for my discs), no curtains, no pictures, no chandeliers....
- my teeth somehow began causing me troubles
- I want to get rid of useless items, and have sold several discs and "The Beatles - Anthology" book already
- I get so tired quite soon
- either the lack of practice (I don't remember already when it was that I went out of our home in the evening) or anything different, but I experience problems while singing (I start feeling discomfort in my nasopharynx)
- after I come home from walking anywhere other than "to work and back" I feel very tired
- when I am sleepy (both at home and at work) I put everything aside and sleep
- my old fears became my advisers
- many of what I accepted earlier is being criticized now
- the feeling of lifelongness of punishment for my life failures much amplified, it now does not imply any hope to get some feeling of forgiveness in this life, and after - it does not troubles me somehow (there should be something that I already lost due to my failures)
- if nothing has been created by me over a day, I can feel it dying in my hands
- I decided to start blogging
There should be something more, but I do not remember now. I do not force anything to stay in my head if I do not need that.
What next?
P.S. Here is another interest: could it be that when we were infants we were shown some key images from our future, remembered them at subconscious level, and now, when we follow our life paths and check with those milestones by means of deja-vu phenomenon, we wonder "this already happened in the past!"?
Added on April 28, 2012.
Meanwhile, I keep on remembering some details.
- my already-not-such-high speed of playing strategic games became even worse
- I no longer love bright sunlight and hot days
- success and achievements in different areas do not bring me joy, but fade when Sun goes down
Full circle is about to close, and it becomes so hard living endearment-less....
The First Milestone.... Although probably our first milestone was someplace there, at a very young age, but we do not realise that consciously, and infants do not need that vanity at all. OK, my first milestone is 21. When I turned 21 I felt some incredible lift-up. I thought I could do everything I would want, any kind of undertaking. I found my future wife in that age and introduced my girlfriend to my family (believe me, all of those who knew me by that time were in shock). Over the years, growing older and meeting failures I started thinking that one can achieved nothing in his life at all, if started later than when he is 21.
The Second Milestone - 40. It has been more that 6 months since I celebrated my 40th birthday, so here is what I happened to collect of what I feel.
- desire to live in an absolutely white (walls) room, with minimum of items around (a computer table with a wheeled armchair, a TV set, audio/video players, obligatory shelves for my discs), no curtains, no pictures, no chandeliers....
- my teeth somehow began causing me troubles
- I want to get rid of useless items, and have sold several discs and "The Beatles - Anthology" book already
- I get so tired quite soon
- either the lack of practice (I don't remember already when it was that I went out of our home in the evening) or anything different, but I experience problems while singing (I start feeling discomfort in my nasopharynx)
- after I come home from walking anywhere other than "to work and back" I feel very tired
- when I am sleepy (both at home and at work) I put everything aside and sleep
- my old fears became my advisers
- many of what I accepted earlier is being criticized now
- the feeling of lifelongness of punishment for my life failures much amplified, it now does not imply any hope to get some feeling of forgiveness in this life, and after - it does not troubles me somehow (there should be something that I already lost due to my failures)
- if nothing has been created by me over a day, I can feel it dying in my hands
- I decided to start blogging
There should be something more, but I do not remember now. I do not force anything to stay in my head if I do not need that.
What next?
P.S. Here is another interest: could it be that when we were infants we were shown some key images from our future, remembered them at subconscious level, and now, when we follow our life paths and check with those milestones by means of deja-vu phenomenon, we wonder "this already happened in the past!"?
Added on April 28, 2012.
Meanwhile, I keep on remembering some details.
- my already-not-such-high speed of playing strategic games became even worse
- I no longer love bright sunlight and hot days
- success and achievements in different areas do not bring me joy, but fade when Sun goes down
Full circle is about to close, and it becomes so hard living endearment-less....
Friday, January 20, 2012
Russian equivalent of 'a songstory' word
This post of mine is another bilingual one again due to the topic introduced. I found another equivalent in Russian language to express the meaning of 'a songstory' in one word.
The recently found "повествопесня" uses, as the English original does, two roots: "повесть" and "песня". However the latter refers to a single song. The word I chose - "пение" - stands for "singing", thus making my version slightly weaker. However if one goes through those words in reverse order, s/he can find that the term is described like "stories that are being sung", meaning that "the story finds its meaning" or "starts living" when being sung. Hence this would describe not the process but the nature of this piece of work.
Also, in Russian there is "повествование" word that means "narration", which supports the process of origination of this new word in the best way, I believe.
So, I propose another Russian analogue of the English 'a songstory' (invented by John Ellis): 'повествопение'.
You are most welcome to propose a better version! I will be happy if I find anybody else interested in this stuff.
Added 6 days later, on January 26, 2012:
IMPORTANT! The development of this topic is presented here.
The recently found "повествопесня" uses, as the English original does, two roots: "повесть" and "песня". However the latter refers to a single song. The word I chose - "пение" - stands for "singing", thus making my version slightly weaker. However if one goes through those words in reverse order, s/he can find that the term is described like "stories that are being sung", meaning that "the story finds its meaning" or "starts living" when being sung. Hence this would describe not the process but the nature of this piece of work.
Also, in Russian there is "повествование" word that means "narration", which supports the process of origination of this new word in the best way, I believe.
So, I propose another Russian analogue of the English 'a songstory' (invented by John Ellis): 'повествопение'.
You are most welcome to propose a better version! I will be happy if I find anybody else interested in this stuff.
Added 6 days later, on January 26, 2012:
IMPORTANT! The development of this topic is presented here.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
On Translations - part 4
Status
My Climber is ready. After I finished my "final" run yesterday I shut the computer down immediately, leaving only one chance for the ultimate "dress-rehearsal" run. What has been done is another comment of medical nature added, some better options chosen, but nothing reworked. There were three pieces that took most of that run time, but eventually I get back to the initial readings. I marked those three places in the text for my own records, just to see if any side feedback arrives in that regards. Also, I found much more minor places than I did yesterday that do not "match" mathematically or rhythmically or phonetically (and marked them too for my own internal use), however I decided not to go on correcting them all. There is no need for that already. So I can say that the translation of "The Climber" by Judge Smith has been finalized today.
Orfeas
As for this piece of work, I think I will not be pursuing the same goal of providing rhymed translation. No need to tickle my own vanity. This can be done, I presume, but that will not be interesting for me already. "The Climber" demanded it, while "Orfeas" wants something new. In fact, what I tried to do in my Climber was already implemented in Judge's "Orfeas", at a higher level though. I adapted one language to another following the same rhythm and music; Judge adapted music to a human speech. He describes that process here, you should read it.As I wrote earlier - the draft is done, however based on my experience with "The Climber" I can make an estimate and say that this will require up to one week to present the ultimate version of my Orfeas. But before that...
Scheduled tasks
.... before that I need to write an Introduction to the translations of Judge Smith's lyrics, and to translate that wonderful essay by Judge on Songstories. Once I met a Russian interpretation of that word invented by Judge, but I will think twice before I reuse it. Who knows maybe I will be able to find something more attractive. As soon as I have both prepared they will be posted on hammill.ru. So, "Coming soon!"....
My Climber is ready. After I finished my "final" run yesterday I shut the computer down immediately, leaving only one chance for the ultimate "dress-rehearsal" run. What has been done is another comment of medical nature added, some better options chosen, but nothing reworked. There were three pieces that took most of that run time, but eventually I get back to the initial readings. I marked those three places in the text for my own records, just to see if any side feedback arrives in that regards. Also, I found much more minor places than I did yesterday that do not "match" mathematically or rhythmically or phonetically (and marked them too for my own internal use), however I decided not to go on correcting them all. There is no need for that already. So I can say that the translation of "The Climber" by Judge Smith has been finalized today.
Orfeas
As for this piece of work, I think I will not be pursuing the same goal of providing rhymed translation. No need to tickle my own vanity. This can be done, I presume, but that will not be interesting for me already. "The Climber" demanded it, while "Orfeas" wants something new. In fact, what I tried to do in my Climber was already implemented in Judge's "Orfeas", at a higher level though. I adapted one language to another following the same rhythm and music; Judge adapted music to a human speech. He describes that process here, you should read it.As I wrote earlier - the draft is done, however based on my experience with "The Climber" I can make an estimate and say that this will require up to one week to present the ultimate version of my Orfeas. But before that...
Scheduled tasks
.... before that I need to write an Introduction to the translations of Judge Smith's lyrics, and to translate that wonderful essay by Judge on Songstories. Once I met a Russian interpretation of that word invented by Judge, but I will think twice before I reuse it. Who knows maybe I will be able to find something more attractive. As soon as I have both prepared they will be posted on hammill.ru. So, "Coming soon!"....
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
On Translations - part 3
Status
It turned out to be quite a busy day, so done nothing in this direction today. However, yesterday I succeeded in further polishing of my Climber (leaving only a dozen of out-of-sync syllables; in fact there were more before that), and also added more comments on the mentioned food and wines.
Questions
1. How to proceed? Should I take another look into my Climber or should I keep it aside and proceed with my Orfeas?
2. Do I want to present both translations together, or it would be better to post them in series? I think the latter option is the winner: let them arrive from time to time not bothering each other. Also, if I would want to post two of them together, then why not to post three?
3. So, I need to take a short rest before I am ready to post my Climber. He will climb first, and Orfeas will follow. But for how long can I postpone the launching date?
It turned out to be quite a busy day, so done nothing in this direction today. However, yesterday I succeeded in further polishing of my Climber (leaving only a dozen of out-of-sync syllables; in fact there were more before that), and also added more comments on the mentioned food and wines.
Questions
1. How to proceed? Should I take another look into my Climber or should I keep it aside and proceed with my Orfeas?
2. Do I want to present both translations together, or it would be better to post them in series? I think the latter option is the winner: let them arrive from time to time not bothering each other. Also, if I would want to post two of them together, then why not to post three?
3. So, I need to take a short rest before I am ready to post my Climber. He will climb first, and Orfeas will follow. But for how long can I postpone the launching date?
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
On Translations - part 2
Status of "The Climber"
The translation of "The Climber" is verified, a couple of minor (hopefully final) edits done and, I think, correct decision made: I am going to present the rhymed translation as my ultimate output. The lyrics is so deeply interconnects with the music that I think it deserves such a treatment. Those dozen of tiny fragments that simply need to be sung quickly, or stretched to due to different syllable count and differences in the rhythmic construction do not affect overall impression, and in general the whole piece can be read without singing as well (something like watching a movie without sound).
Orfeas
Yes, about to start the second round of going through Orfeas draft. While running through The Climber I noticed that my translation got improved by the moment I reached the end. Not to say that it was weak from the beginning, but that I caught the thread, and successfully followed it. Since Orfeas was my second output, I hope this will be felt even better here. By the way, only four comments have been added to The Climber, mostly the translations of minor occurrences of some words in Italian, and one on the North Italian Plain, for the name of which I had to apply minor rewording. Orfeas already has more than thirty....
Questions
No such at the moment. Now need to take a short break, and then make some noise to welcome the George Orfeas Band!
The translation of "The Climber" is verified, a couple of minor (hopefully final) edits done and, I think, correct decision made: I am going to present the rhymed translation as my ultimate output. The lyrics is so deeply interconnects with the music that I think it deserves such a treatment. Those dozen of tiny fragments that simply need to be sung quickly, or stretched to due to different syllable count and differences in the rhythmic construction do not affect overall impression, and in general the whole piece can be read without singing as well (something like watching a movie without sound).
Orfeas
Yes, about to start the second round of going through Orfeas draft. While running through The Climber I noticed that my translation got improved by the moment I reached the end. Not to say that it was weak from the beginning, but that I caught the thread, and successfully followed it. Since Orfeas was my second output, I hope this will be felt even better here. By the way, only four comments have been added to The Climber, mostly the translations of minor occurrences of some words in Italian, and one on the North Italian Plain, for the name of which I had to apply minor rewording. Orfeas already has more than thirty....
Questions
No such at the moment. Now need to take a short break, and then make some noise to welcome the George Orfeas Band!
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