.png)
“Nothing can surpass the mystery of stillness” - e. e. cummings
Pianist Svetozar Ivanov introduces us to his new filmmaking endeavor, a collection of 7 short films entitled “Poetry Series”. Each film, 3-8 minutes in length, features the work of one poet integrated into the musical ambiance a particular composer. A third artistic ingredient is added to each, drawn from dance, paintings, film footage, or animation.
Each art form provides a setting for the other, with the intention of complementing one another, possibly proposing a new dimension. The poetry allows us to experience the music with an active mind, and the music opens our hearts, providing time to absorb the words.
Composers in this collection include Scriabin, Schoenberg, Berio, Cage, Feldman, Ustvolskaya, and Crumb. The poets presented are Apollinaire, Lorca, George, E. E. Cummings, Borges, and Paz.
“…and solitary still…”
Svetozar Ivanov - piano
Poetry Series, op. 1
poetry by
Sappho (c.630 – c.570 BCE)
fragment 58
fragment 46
music by
Henry Cowell
"Aeolian Harp"
Ancient Greek reading by
Sister of Iris -
fragments by Sappho
youtube.com/user/starryeyedcrystal
fresco
Sappho (ca.50 CE)
Naples National Archaeological Museum
film by
Svetozar Ivanov
“Touch”
Svetozar Ivanov, piano
Poetry Series op. 2
music by Alexander Scriabin
“Désir”, “Caresse densée”, op. 57
poetry by Octavio Paz
“Touch”
animation by Lesslee Smucker
“Dissolve”
film by
Svetozar Ivanov
“The Gate of the Sea”
Svetozar Ivanov, piano
Poetry Series, op. 3
painting by:
Catherine Bourdon-Marçais
The Gate of the Sea
music by:
Luciano Berio
Wasserklavier
poetry by:
E. E. Cummings
choreography by:
Bliss Kohlmyer
film by:
Svetozar Ivanov
“My Heart”
Svetozar Ivanov, piano
Poetry Series, op. 4
poetry by Guillaume Apollinaire
The Farewell
Heart
music by Luciano Berio
Brin
Erdenklavier
film footage from
Brumes d'automne (1928) by Dimitri Kirsanoff
film by
Svetozar Ivanov
“Romance Sentimentale”
Svetozar Ivanov - piano
Poetry Series, op. 5
poetry by
Anna Akhmatova - "Listening to Singing"
music by
Galina Ustvolskaya - "Piano Sonata No. 6"
film footage by
Sergel Eisenstein - "Romance Sentimentale" (1930)
choreography by
Bliss Kohlmyer
film by
Svetozar Ivanov
[… … … …]
Svetozar Ivanov, piano
Poetry Series, op. 6
poetry by
Federico García Lorca
[..............]
First Launching
Leave-taking
music by
Eric Satie - Tango perpétuel
Alexander Scriabin - Prelude op.11, no.12
Morton Feldman - Intermission 1
Galina Ustvolskaya - Prelude no.12
animation by
Leslee Smucker
flower
glass panels
second rotary
film by
Svetozar Ivanov
“The Moon”
Svetozar Ivanov, piano
Poetry Series, op. 7
poem by
Jorge Luis Borges - The Moon
music by
George Crumb - The Magic Circle of Infinity
film by
Svetozar Ivanov
“The Prophet”
Svetozar Ivanov, piano
Poetry Series, op. 8
Egon Schiele
The Prophet, Double Self Portrait (1911)
Stefan George
from The Star and the Covenant (1913)
Arnold Schoenberg
from Drei Klavierstücke, op.11, Mäßige (1909)
“The Spirit”
Svetozar Ivanov - piano
Poetry Series, op. 9
music by
Alexander Scriabin
Five Preludes, op. 74
poetry by
Vyacheslav Ivanov
The Spirit
painting by
Mikalojus Čiurlionis
Allegro (Sonata of the Stars)
film by
Svetozar Ivanov
“4’33”
Svetozar Ivanov, piano
Poetry Series, op. 10
poetry by
E. E. Cummings
music by
John Cage - "4'33"
George Crumb - "Music of Shadows"
film by
Svetozar Ivanov