Detail of Dancer Taking a Bow (The Star) (1877) by Edgar Degas
". . . And then at night get together and dance."
That's one of my favorite quotes about the Arts. It's especially appropriate for today, on the birth date of Edgar Degas, born in 1834, one of my favorite Impressionists. No other artist has captured the beauty and grace of dancing as well.
It's all about motion and the transience of the moment. The way in which the figures are positioned, the flashes of color, the evocation of space, these elements create a visual rhythm that carries the eye across the canvas, as if, through the act of seeing, the viewer is a participant in the dance itself.
The Tub (1888) by Edgar Degas
It's a lyrical vision that can also be seen in his sculptural works. Even something as placid as taking a bath becomes a study in motion, a languid twist and stretch, with a natural grace and an inviting poise.
Why do I so love visiting museums, art galleries, and botanic gardens?
The easy answer would be that I like looking a beautiful objects. That's true, but there's more to my adoration. Perhaps, it's about change. The concept is pretty easy to grasp when you think about the gardens; each month has a different set of flowers, different colors, and different scents. Although it's the exact same place that I might have visited a few weeks back, the subtle changes make for a vivid new experience.
Likewise, the way in which art galleries cycle through exhibits, it requires effort to see the same show twice. Yet, with most museums, asides from temporary exhibitions, the collection doesn't really change. So, why do I get such a thrill from visiting and revisiting such venues?
Detail of Dancer Taking a Bow (1877) by Edgar Degas
Because I and my circumstances change, the cultural venues speak to me in different ways, capture my imagination afresh with novel insights. My moods and interests shift from day to day, week to week, altering me in subtle but significant manners. Just as the changing of flowers makes it so that a botanical garden is never twice the same, so too is it that my personal changes make each viewing of a stable museum collection a unique experience.
The camellia season has begun, starting with a show at the Decanso Gardens. Over the next two months, nearly every weekend will feature a flower show somewhere in Southern California, from Kern County in the North to San Diego in the South and out in the Pomona Valley to the East. Yeah, we love our camellias out here in SoCal.
As a flower of Western fashion, the camellia was queen during the early to mid-19th century, but it fell out of favor in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, leaving it with an "old-fashioned" reputation. For most of Europe and the USA, it still trails dahlias, orchids, roses, and tulips as symbols of glamour.
But California is a Pacific Rim civilization. As with the other great cultures along the Pacific, California recognizes within the camellia a special splendor, a floral elegance both refined and bold.
Camellia: Tama Peacock
And that's why we are blessed with two months full of camellia celebrations. ;-)
But, although I'll be visiting many a show, we aren't transforming Paideia into a Camellia blog. I'll try to keep a healthy mix of flowers going for our Friday showcase.
The title of prima ballerina assoluta is given out to only the most highly regarded of ballet dancers, those who have made lasting impressions and contributions towards the refinement and development of the art form, those who have performed with unforgettable grace and indelible expressiveness. It is from among these legendary dancers that we focus upon Alicia Markova in celebration of her birth date.
As is common with early 20th century ballerinas, there isn't much footage available to view, leaving us to piece together her artistry from photographs, contemporary accounts, a few snips of film, and the performance techniques of her students. In aggregating these sources together into a coherent testimony, it is clear that Markova was every bit as amazing as her devotees claim.
So, let's take a moment today to consider the Art of the Dance. Although it's also true for most types of artistic endeavors, be it writing or painting or theater, the effort that goes into a dance career does not generally translate into notable financial gains. The rigorous training sessions, the constant searching for dance engagements, and the short career span, these all combine to make a dancer's art one of the hardest to pursue.
Alicia Markova was born on December 1, 1910.
Although some flowers do bloom in the desert, many more thrive where water is prevalent. A similar situation exists in the world of performing arts, as regards finance. So, consider visiting a dance performance sometime soon; even just a holiday viewing of the Nutcracker would be cool. The next generation's Markova may be on the verge of calling it quits, going for steady employment behind a desk rather than starving upon the stage.
It has been a long while since our last ballet post. Let's remedy the situation by celebrating the birth date of Alexandra Danilova, born on this date in 1903.
One of the greatest prima ballerinas of her generation, Danilova made an indelible mark on the art of dance both upon the stage and within the studio as a teacher. Sadly, there is very little footage of her performances easily available, just brief clips and fragmentary shots, flashes of her grace and poise.
But it is clear, from these images and the testimony of her audience, Danilova was a wonder of motion.
Alexandra Danilova in Swan Lake
So, let's take a moment today to appreciate the beauty of ballet and the artistry of a legendary performer.
It's been a while since I posted about a cinematic topic, but Vivien Leigh, one of the most breathtakingly beautiful women to grace the silver screen, was born on this day in 1913.
There is a cliche that great beauties are not great actresses, a sentiment that receives ample anecdotal evidence in the eye candy fluff churned out by the modern movie industry, but this fallacy crashes and burns when applied to Vivien. Two Oscars and a Tony Award are proof of her ability, as are the iconic performances that become immortalized in Hollywood history.
Were all of her performances great? No. She would occasionally let her looks carry the dramatic weight. Other times, it seemed as if the directing was showcasing the "pretty" and undercutting her acting abilities. Regardless, Vivien brought more stage presence and dramatic sensibility in her right eyebrow than you could draw out of a bevy of contemporary beauties.
The ballet, Rite of Spring, premiered on this date in 1913 at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris. The music was composed by Igor Stravinsky. It is intended to portray an ancient pagan ritual in which a young maiden dances herself to death as a sacrificial offer to the God of Spring. The music and choreography were so unconventional that a small riot broke out during the performance.
Over time, it has become an iconic example of 20th century classical music.
Time for another music homage. Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky was born of this date in 1840. For me, among the great composers, Tchaikovsky is the great storyteller, the master of narrative music. His compositions develop a premise, regardless of compositional structure: ballet, concerto, symphony, or tone poem. When you listen to his music, there is a progression of conflict and resolution, an intensification of emotion leading to catharsis.
This goes beyond mere program music. In the case of such music, the narrative is made explicit. Yeah, Tchaikovsky does this too, see the 1812 Overture or Romeo and Juliet.
His influence is still with us, in the form of modern movie scores and soundtracks. And that's why he is so accessible to the contemporary ear. For many modern listeners, the music of Bach, Chopin, Mozart, and Schubert requires some mental focus to appreciate, a effort that many are not willing to expend. But because of its lyric narrative, Tchaikovsky's music sneaks up on the listener. The stories that they tell are timeless and universal.
I can go on and on with the importance of narrative, but I'll let the music speak for itself. In each of these pieces, asks what is this music "about"? They are arranged in increasing order of abstraction.
Alright, Swan Lake is an gimme. But listen again but with your eyes closed? Does the narrative change?
1812 tells a clear tale of battle and triumph. That's obvious, but take note of how the music tells the story.
This one's a bit tougher. There is no clearly stated "plot" focus, but there is a "setting" clue, a Rococo theme upon which variations are played. So, what is it "about"?
Yeah, it's called Souvenir de Florence, but is that related to its narrative? If not, what is the it about???
Anyways, we could play this game all day long and then some. But I encourage you to give Tchaikovsky some time. There is a lot to explore. There is much to learn. And there is a great deal of Beauty to enjoy.
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