Schlafes Bruder

Sometimes it happens that I cannot fall asleep. It's been two weeks now - no matter how I try, my eyes are not closing until 3am. It's a strange feeling - being alone in the middle of the night, no sound, no movement, only thoughts. They start from one, which sticks in  the mind and screams "please develop me into an endless thread of other thoughts, please please - are you sleeping yet? and now? and now? cmooooon". Wish I had a switch-off for thinking.

But then I always remember one book, read long time ago, which explains the meaning of insomnia. "Schlafes Bruder" (by Robert Schneider, would be in German. It tells the story about a boy who helplessly fell in love and decided not to sleep - because he who sleeps does not love. And then, not willing to loose those precious moments, he decides not to sleep - even though it means eventual death. The story is so tragic, and yet has something magical in it... and so musical too.

From a movie "Schlafes Bruder", according to the book

Komm, o Tod, du Schlafes  Bruder,

Komm und führe mich nur fort. 

Löse meines Schiffleins Ruder, 

Bringe mich an sichern Port. 

Es mag, wer da will, dich scheuen, 

Du kannst mich vielmehr erfreuen. 

Denn durch dich komm ich herein 

Zu dem schönsten Jesulein.

You know it when you see it - Ken Hensley in Tbilisi!

This weekend was just great! Not only because of sun and warmth; and not only because it was weekend; and not only because we went to a concert. Ken Hensley, the founder of legendary Uriah Heep was in Tbilisi for an acoustic concert, and he made it all real special (Uriah Heep is this really famous rock band from the 70s, of which I found out only last year, even though some songs had been surely familiar. So I guess I can't be very snobbish and up-nosed about it now, can I...?).

The concert was simple, in a cozy semi-renovated hall, for less than 500 people, just Ken Hensley and his guitar/piano; later a local band joined (how cool is that, to play with such a celebrity? One of the pluses of Georgia - it's a small country, and community of any alternative trends is even smaller = you can be really special easier:). People could ask questions, and they did - from the most banal ("how do you like our country") to quite interesting ones; from short and concrete to remembrance stories ("do you remember how you were playing "July Morning" in Tokio and drinking water simultaneously?" He did! And he repeated it!). And in this small hall he gave all himself to people who came to listen; and you could really feel that it's a real music, something of a value, something not to be missed.

My favorite track (okok, the only on e I knew before the concert...:)) but still great, rait? :)

Just couldn't stop comparing it to the concert of Bob Dylan in Vilnius, a couple of years ago. The Great Musician was sitting almost his back to people; everyone was asked to remain seated, not to stand or dance or move in any way. The whole evening reminded a public movie screening - he was equally remote, just like all his band. Why did they even come there, no idea. Thanks to Ken Hensley though, for bringing back my faith in great musicians and their music.

Mountain roads

...Tas nepakartojamas jausmas, kai naktį kalnuose mikroautobusiukas išvažiuoja į priešingą eismo juostą posūkyje, o aplinkui tik žvaigždės ir juodos medžių viršūnės.
Tik tiek, kitų mašinų nėra, jas išduotų šviesos, bet virpuliukas vis tiek išlieka: "Kažin, kiek dar tų posūkių?.."


...That unique feeling, when at night in the mountains minibus goes to another lane while turning, and there is nothing around only stars and black peaks of the trees. That is all, there are no other cars - they would be visible, their lights would betray them, but the thrill remains: "I wonder, how many turns left?.."