leonardcohenforum.com

Of love

I will talk to you of love
If you’ll let me.

I’ll let you know
The secret
Of silence,

I’ll tell you
The truth
Of all that is.

You know?

Only the chirping of birds.
Only the movement of wind.

Listen:
My lips move
In wordless love
& smiling
I see your body
Understands

I speak to you of love

So beautiful, and so you, Taigaku. Love with its many levels, its many expressions, is gloriously and always, love.

I've been wondering where you are. It's good to see you back with your gentle words.

Love,
Elizabeth

Serene; sublime as ever.........

Love,
Makera

PS. Do you like Kitaro?

Thank you, both of you

It's good to be back!
Makera, I'm not really familiar with Kitaro, but perhaps I should remedy that?

~Taigaku

If you're able, Taigaku, obtain the album "Silk Road" by Kitaro. Your words and essences are, in fact, quite reminiscent of those evoked by his music. I believe he is Japanese; thin; with long, black hair. He appears to have a beautiful, gentle energy. If his music is a measure [and I feel it probably is], then he truly does. He uses synthesizers, et al, and his music transports. I believe you would appreciate him. I can't remember whether "Tangerine Dream" was done by him, or if that's a similar group, reminiscent of him. It's been years since that name ["Tangerine Dream"] came into my thinking. On the other hand, I have several albums and tapes by Kitaro.

~ Elizabeth

Liz~ Maybe you can help identify the Kitaro album I was thinking of. (It was one recorded on tape for me by that late friend I've mentioned.) I'm not sure if it was called 'The Milky Way' or if that was the title of one of the tracks; 'Time Traveller' is another that comes to mind (or 'something' traveller). That album is wonderful to meditate to -- you actually feel 'lifted' and transported. Nothing like you usually think of when 'synthesizer' is mentioned. Kitaro has a more wind instrument and water-like sound. The "Tangerine Dream" you are thinking of, Liz, is another group; they did the soundtrack to "Blade Runner", the SiFi movie with Harrison Ford.
Kitaro also wrote some poetry. There was a poem that went with that particular album, I think.

~Makera

Makera ~

I'll see what I have and whether anything comes close to the names you've given. Right, on Kitaro's sound being more wind instrument and water-like. I mentioned synthesizer because there's a photo of him sitting at one, I think on "Silk Road." I used to think I hated synthesizer music because it wasn't "real." I had a roommate, however, who loved it ~ and when every time I would come home and say, "What is that? I love it!" he would invariably say, "Synthesizer music," I finally came to terms with "OK, maybe I do like synthesizer music."

The first time I heard Silk Road, was at night in the Keys, having dinner with a man who looked very similar to Kitaro, with slight build and long, silky black hair, same basic colouring and features......and the same, what-I-would-imagine-to-be, gentle energy of Kitaro. He had an Airstream travel trailer, with the all the richly coloured wood inside. He had made us an organic salad, vegetables and rice. With incense burning, we were eating and drinking wine by candlelight. The colouring and ambience of our surroundings was amber. Out of his sound sytem came the beginning and building sounds of Silk Road. I stopped whatever I was doing and listened in disbelief. It was one of the most emotionally seductive moments I have a specifically graphic memory of in my life.

Did Tangerine Dream have a similar sound to Kitaro? It was recommended to me by someone, but I can't recall what prompted it; whether it was Kitaro or something else.

I hope Silk Road was what your friend recorded for you. I'll check.

~ Lizzytysh

Liz~
Thanks, I must say "Silk Road" doesn't sound like the title, but it's possible, if it's late 70s/80s vintage. "Tangerine Dream" is not my favourite 'sound' in synthesized music, nothing like Kitaro. I remember my first intro to synthesized music was in the '70s when the 'Moog Synthesizer' came into vogue. We had a tape called "The Moog Strikes Bach", it was fabulous! Bach's Stocata and Fugue was made for it. Also Rachmaninoff's 'Vocalise' and some Paganini were great.

~Makera

Makera ~

I found it ! You're remembering both song titles correctly [Time Traveller and Milky Way], and they're both on the same tape "Tenku," produced in 1986. The picture on the front is almost a profile, with his hair blowing from behind, and nearly covering his whole face, with part of his forehead, of his left eye, and of his nose showing. It's in black and white with cloudiness against darkness behind him.

The other songs on it are:
Tenku; Romance; Wings; Aura; Message from the Cosmos; and Legend of the Road. It also has a poem on the inside, written by Kitaro in what looks like [in his small writing beneath his signatures ~ both English and Japanese] 1986, with possibly an abbreviation for September:

"I send a message of sound
Towards the sky
Engulfing empty space
Soaring far beyond grasp
High above mountain tops
Beyond ocean waves
Stretching to reach the Andes
And lightly touching Nepal

Watch as the sounds flow
Listen as you feel the wind blow
Nature is colored with romance
Unfolding a drama day by day
Plants breathe a rhythm
Insects play their melody
Light flies as wind cries
Now catch the sound...feel the light

By feeling things which are with life
Innocents respond to the delicate sigh
Of the world, weaving their own dreams
Dreams which spread throughout the world
People begin to sing harmonies of love, wordless
This is a beginning
Connecting the dream
To the color of your breathless heart
Peace and tranquility, you need only to sing
It is for you."


I also have by him "Kojiki" [produced in 1990] with the songs: Hajimari [In the Beginning]; Sozo [The Birth of a Land]; Koi [Love and The Death of Izanami]; Orochi [The Eight-Headed Dragon]; Nageki [Sorrow in a World of Darkness]; Matsuri [The Festival]; and Reimei [The New Dawn].

Then, my dear Silk Road [produced in 1981 in W. Germany] ~ which has become separated from its sleeve. I first heard it in 1983. However, I have "Kitaro / Silk Road Suite" of his music, so presumably all the songs are same/same. It's performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, with conductor Paul Buckmaster. So, the songs on Silk Road would be: Tienshan; Peace; Journey; Silk Road Theme; Drifting Sand; Fragrance of Nature; Silk Road Fantasy; Time; Flying Celestial Nymphs; Silk Road Theme Andante; Everlasting Road; Bell Tower; Sunset; Westbound; and Magical Sand Dance. With "All compositions by Kitaro" on the sleeve, I'm certain the songs number no more, no less than what's on Silk Road.

I remember the Moog synthesizer, and the Moog/Bach tape sounds familiar. If I've heard it, I don't have a specific recollection, but it sounds beautiful. Maybe I just heard about it.

~ Elizabeth

Bless you Lizzy! You are an angel, after all!

You have no idea what that meant to me, to see that poem again after all this time. When my friend, Gary, sent me his tape of that album he included a hand-written copy of Kitaro's poem, and dedicated it to me!
Thank you so much.

Love & Light,

Gennelle

Oh, dear....["angel" ]....does this mean I've died and gone to heaven ?

I'm truly sorry that you've lost the poem in Gary's own handwriting. It is very gratifying for me to have been able to at least bring you the words. Reading your posting made me think how we sometimes, never really know the real reason or purpose behind our meetings, and who may play what part in our lives. After reading your posting, I read both poems again [Kitaro's and Taigaku's], and wondered if Gary may have used us, through Taigaku and then Kitaro, to send you his love. It's something someone from the other side would do , those buggers . It's how I believe. Aside from the direct connection, Kitaro's music is also the perfect vehicle. The message itself is, perhaps, all the more recognizable when you consider the messenger ......the angel of which you speak.

The handwritten poem and the music were a true heartgift from Gary. If you'd like, I'd be happy to make a copy of the tape for you, with a xerox of both sides of the sleeve. If you're interested in Kojiki, Silk Road Suite, or Silk Road , I could easily [and will be happy to] include them, as well. When I said the sleeve got separated from the tape on Silk Road, it's the sleeve I'm missing, and the tape I'm listening to, as I write.

You're welcome for the poem, Makera .

~ Lizzy

Ah, Lizzy, don't forget our most important 'bridge', Taigaku... But yes, I Know Gary is always around, I know he'd get a real kick out of some of our 'exchanges'! (He would really appreciate Heretic, too, methinks.)

If you are sure you really don't mind taking the time, you know I would truly love to have a copy of that album, (and the rest of,
course.)
But, I would be quite happy with 'Tenku', I don't want to impose on you too much. I'll PM later.

Love,

Makera

PS Isn't that funny, just as I submitted my post, you had changed yours to include credit to our Taigaku...psychic timing, what.

Hi Makera ~

I'm thinking you must have hit your Submit button, just as I was about to click mine. "Of Love" ~ as you can see, I definitely did not forget Taigaku. It appears you may have been answering me, while I was fitting him into where he properly belonged, adding and changing around some of my emoticons, and adding some more thoughts. He hadn't been lost in the process, for sure . Forget Taigaku ? Were it not for the words "Of Love," this path would not have been taken. Remembering also that he invoked Buddha of Compassion for tonight .

With the tapes, it will be a matter of getting the equipment. I can't do it tomorrow, for sure. I've finally gotten my Raffi tapes off to be recorded by my record-store owner friend. That's cuz I got tired of waiting on myself , to get the right equipment. So, I guess I'll either do it that way, and it'll be simply more time of pleasant listening, if I do more than one; or they'll just have to take a trip to the record store, too, like Raffi did. I'll begin with "Tenku," as soon as I can. It won't be a long time, but it also won't be immediately. I'm making progress on my backlog of projects .

Yes, PM me.

~ Lizzy