• Landscape,  Travel

    Landscape and music of Arvo Pärt

    It is a not too short distance from Arnarstapi to the Güllfoss in the heart of Iceland. The constantly changing weather is stroke of luck, as are the long days. As a driver of a car, my pleasure increases with leisurely speed and music appropriate to the landscape.

    Detlef and I have been going on astronomical adventures in different combinations for 10 years now. This time we’re going on our own for the first time.

    Modern cars allow you to bring your own music with you via your mobile phone. This way we discover our preferred composers and musicians have a broad commonality.

    Today it is Arvo Pärt’s turn, which has written music that could be taken to a planet that is still uninhabited or sparsely populated. This fits perfectly with the early plant settlements on the volcanic rock and the April weather of the island. With Arvo Pärt’s music, the rugged features of Iceland disappear and turn into gentle forms.

    Behind Miklaholtssel © Julian Köpke
    Rain near Borgarbyggd © Julian Köpke

    On the way to the hotel at the Güllfoss waterfall we come across Strokkur, a reliable geyser with the same blue colour of the water when it starts to rise driven by steam.

    You never walk alone (Blue bubble) © Julian Köpke
  • General

    Organ music

    I like organ music. And I like the architecture of an organ. It’s always a composition of different metals and woods.

    Today my favorite organ player gave us nice preludes as a present during the service.

    Lantern above the fingerboards © Julian Köpke
    Fingerboards of our organ © Julian Köpke
    Organ pipes © Julian Köpke