“Don’t look with yearning at the road…”

castle

I took this photograph in 2007. Since then, I have passed the place numerous times but for some reason have never stopped for a picture again. People take beautiful images of this place from Spring to Autumn, but all I have is this one and a few more – all gloomy and joyless.

Photography is scarce in the end of November.

In Tchaikovsky Album The Seasons, the piece of music written in E major for November is very light and cheerful.  It has always surprised me, because November has never been my favorite, and nothing cheers me up when I think of November.  If you don’t mind, let’s listen first. I intentionally use this unprofessional performance: a young girl, Sophia, reminds me of myself.

Tchaikovsky,  Les Saisons, Novembre,Troïka .

Troika is a sled drawn by three horses,  a very symbolic image for Russia. They must have had plenty of snow in Russia in November back in the 19th century. So I also heard about Ireland.

Russian publisher Nikolay Bernard, the one who commissioned Tchaikovsky to write The Seasons,  suggested a subtitle for each month’s piece. Tchaikovsky accepted all of Bernard’s subtitles. You will be surprised to learn what this cheerful, jingle-bell-ish piece of music has for a subtitle:

Don’t look with yearning at the road,

And don’t rush after the troika.

Suppress and stifle the dreary dismay in your heart for good.

This is a poem by Nikolay Nekrasov depicting a sad destiny of Russian women in the 19th century. Looks like Tchaikovsky didn’t care…

But I love his music, and want to share another sweet piece – a waltz performed by Lucas Debarge.

Tchaikovsky – Sentimental Waltz Op. 51, No. 6 – Lucas Debarge

This is my Tutor Edite Kampe and I, many years ago, graduating after 7 years in the Music School.

kampe

I am eternally grateful for having her in my life.

This is my Mother.

mom

I want to share another piece of music, a polka that accompanied my every birthday party until I became 12 and put a full stop on this sort of dancing… There are simply brilliant interpretations of this piece – you can look up in Youtube – but I have chosen this one, for an obvious reason… Thank you Mom

Rachmaninov – La Polka Italienne – Anna Hetmanova & Anastasia Pozdniakova.

I am grateful for my family and my music tutors who helped me make Music a part of my life forever.

I found this lonely rose in Kilkenny park. Must be the last one.  On my way home I was listening to The Seasons and smiled recalling my Music School days. I wish everybody had similar experience in their life. I am so blessed.

rose

Give your children and grand children opportunity to study music. Don’t be frustrated if you fail to raise a Mozart. It is not about career. At least, they will know what concert they really want to attend, or what music is played  when a carousel goes around 🙂

carousel

Happy Thanksgiving! Give thanks for all you have! You can always have even more.  Look for the best gifts,  create,  grow. Don’t let the life pass  by like troika in that poem 🙂 Use and enjoy your  blessings.

 

inesemjphotographyHave a great weekend!

68 comments

  2. Thank you for sharing these memories and the special photos and music from your life that accompany them. I agree. Music is such a blessing for children and a benefit for their development. I can see that now as my own children grow up with music in their lives. Beautiful post (as usual 🙂 )

  3. What a lovely post, my friend! I delight in the music, memories and much love I feel you share with us in this post. I can imagine you playing and then dancing and smiling the whole time 🙂

  4. An impressive post. Very poignant, starting with Tchaikovsky and the story behind the Fours seasons and going forward into your deep insights regarding Life itself….
    Beautiful photographs, as well… your mother made me think me of a famous actress. Gorgeous portrait, dear Inese…
    Thanks for sharing ❤
    Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀

    1. Thank you dear friend! My Mom was a pretty lady indeed 🙂
      Because of my being busy lately I only can post once a week… I would love to share something special, but my life is so sickly busy and mundane … 😦 I only hope for some nice changes on Christmas:)

      My the very best wishes! Have a happy and productive week!
      Inese

  6. Another wonderful, introspective and interesting post seasoned with humor with a dash of reality. Lovely!

  7. What a lovely story! Your mother is beautiful and lovely musics that you learned. You were so lucky to be raised with music like that and even can play music instrument! I can’t play any music instruments but I do enjoy such wonderful music..thank you so much for sharing..hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

    1. Thank you so much, Indah! Music is a language everyone understands. I am not practising too often, but I do some accompaniment job for a choir and occasionally for a soloist. It is like a bicycle – once you learn… 🙂
      I have never learned to swim properly. I admire those who swim.
      Have a wonderful weekend you too! 🙂

  8. Such a lovely post. I always had a love of music and had a chance for some lessons when I was 10. It has stayed with me. I agree with you that everyone should at least have an introduction to music — reading it, playing it… It enhances and enriches.

    1. Thank you Linda! You are so right – even a few lessons make a difference and stay with you throughout all your life. It is the magic of music. I wish every parent give it a try…

  10. I didn’t know about your musical training either. I never had any, I simply enjoy listening. I’m happy you have so great memories and so affection for your time learning. Nobody can take it away from you. I’m sure you’ll enjoy Teagan’s ‘Atonement, Tennessee’. I did!

    1. You girls are so gifted! I am finishing the Green Lady, then goes Atonement, and then I will look around for more books.
      My musical training lasted only seven years, but the subjects like History of Music gave me a lot. And also, discipline and responsibility. I wish all young people had learned these two 🙂

  11. Hello! Long time no pass through your blog, well long time…over a week or so.

    I did heard that great poets came from Russia, seems the guy who told me that was right, plus the vodka 😉

    It also seems that great music can also be found there in mother Russia, plus caviar.
    Now that I think about it no wonder great writers and composers of music come from Russia they have the caviar and vodka. Great sources of inspiration.

    The first picture again for me is a hunted one, but in a beautiful way.

    P.S And your mother looks gorgeous in the picture.

    1. Thank you, friend! I haven’t been reading your page a week or so, but did it yesterday night. You shine as always.
      Russia is past her best days, I am afraid… I blame vodka, as one of the factors…
      Have no credible data on caviar though.
      Have a great weekend, be good!

  12. Hi Inse how are you doing! oh yes, Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving! Loved the photo of your mother. Her eyes were striking beautiful!

    Be Bettr, Stay Bettr! 🙂
    Swetank.

  13. I agree with you about November! I do enjoy Thanksgiving, though. It is a day to contemplate what is good in life and in the world rather than complain about what is wrong.

  17. I hope you have had a lovely day, Inese. Thank you for the beautiful music (the first one is all the more lovely for being “not professional”) and for the photos. I enjoy seeing old pictures. Though it’s worlds away from Tchaikovsky i was on a parallel flight of fantasy just now. A beautifully detailed sketch from another blogger of a southern mansion put “Tara’s Theme” in my head and i finally had to go play it.
    Hugs galore.

    1. Thank you for reading! It is amazing how different composers and different pieces of music seem to fit perfectly with particular day and particular mood.
      Start reading your Atonement Monday 🙂 Cant wait:)
      Hugs!

  19. I love Tchaikovsky and didn’t know that side of you. I took piano lessons so playing instruments is not completely foreign to me. I had a very demanding teacher who came from a family of pianists. I still don’t know to this day whether her extreme expectations and demands made me not continue to pursue playing the piano. I was not a Mozart although she kept on saying that I did have the hands of a pianist. What a disappointment for my family when I refused to attend the classes. Yet I am forever grateful for my early experiences with music. Beautiful post.

    1. Thank you for sharing your story, Maria! Sorry they pressed too hard on you, but from the other hand – I wish they pressed harder on me, may be I would go to the college if the did… No one ever knows. What is for sure – music has enriched our lives anyway 🙂

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