Resonances

 I am thinking of my friend: We are on separate Islands. One is north, the other in the south... (or east and west, no matter!) But in this case it is a reality. There is this space which separates the two, the importance of which, at least by our perception, seems to be ever changing...fluid.

 We fill up (or leave empty) this space between us, mostly via various modes of communication. Dictated more by time than by space. More by  state of mind rather than geography.  But still…

And so, I am on my Island where the overwhelming quiet of the fjord, not the open sea, when in darkness, seems to be without end. These watery paths seem to lead to the end of the world or another world, rather than towards civilization.  

 But the ships, arriving at their defined times, which I know now by heart, return from their journeys to this “other” place, and announce there presence with grandeur, with the sounding of huge horns saying, " We are here!!”.  By the timbre, we can visualize their importance. But in fact, what I hear mostly is resonance. The resonance and tonality of the horn’s vibrating space. These frequencies spill out! They flow, pouring into the air until  they reach the resistance of surrounding Islands. What we hear really is not that they have arrived, but rather, "listen to this space".  And we are filling it up! It is the "vide" the “other side of the coin”, this resonating which reminds you what is solid and what is not! Hang on!

And I think of my friend on his island. We always manage to close the gap, filling in, describing the  space…our parallel spaces!

Leon Milo, October 2006

United Sardine Factory

Bergen, Norway