il Giardino Romantico

The reason why everything tangible is obsolete is because that is the natural order of this universe.  For everything, there is birth, and then there is death.  For that makes up the universal duality. 


The birth of my passion for classical music was impregnated by my first iPod - iPod shuffle.  It was the best investment I had ever made.  It helped me discover Vivaldi's invigorating depiction of the four seasons, the spell-bounding symphonies of Beethoven, and later it became my very own private tutor of Spanish, Italian, German, and even French.


After  a continual complaint about not being able to see the details of the songs I'm listening to, a new iPod soon came into my life - iPod Nano.  It was just as good, but even better.  I continued to let it inspire me.


I love not being able to decide whether I should read and listen to a symphony, or do a half-hour language session every day as I leave for work.


I love that my little personal orchestra plays exactly what I ask it to play and whenever I want it to play.  Karajan, Corelli, Kempf, and Menuhin, always at their best and at my disposal.  Just a click and turn, and they will all promptly perform their magic on me.  I am the queen in this world.


But as the days go by, the acoustics slowly fade away.  The inspiration that first started out as a fierce blazing fire, now dimming down to the last flicker.  However well they play, the mind seems to have forgotten what it felt like.  Inspiration, in the words of the Romantics is a spontaneous overflow of very powerful feelings.  Like a waterfall.  Powerful.  Unstoppable. Well, now, it dribbles drop by drop like a broken tap. 


Time to celebrate the birth of a new inspiration.  The trumpets will blow and hats will be taken off in honor of the old worn-out earphones.  They have served me well. 


Bidding farewell is indeed, difficult.  Nevertheless, sorrow ends as soon as the new arrives. 


Today my orchestra is revived.  Once again, Bartoli's Lascia Ch'io Pianga is able to squeeze out a droplet of tear.  I am the rider of the Valkyries.  The canvas of dusk in this chaotic city becomes another masterpiece of God, as my choir sings Missa Solemnis into my ears.


The concept of aesthetics is not elusive.  But you do need the right tools to help you get a good start.  I walk bravely onward from my past into the future as my mechanical pendant, my amulet, hangs blessing-fully around my neck.  No matter how the world should overwhelm me with the most nefarious sounds, I will be ready.  It is my shield and my sword.  Polished and renewed.  It's exactly the thing I need to  become even more secluded than I already am, from the rest of the world.