Menoizikul; Midweek Musicalisms

Last week you were introduced to the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. Today I bring you their mainly instrumental 'poem' to planet Earth and Nature. A solid environmental message with which most of us can 'vibe'. The video is not actually from the band - it is produced by loyal fans but approved by Nightwish as it reflects the intention of the music. You will see different movements called Vista, Blue, Green, Moors, Aurorae, and Quiet of the Snow. Each of these is about nature as it has always been. Then we are shifted into Anthropocene and Ad Astra. 

We have been hearing the term 'The Anthropocene' bandied about a bit this century as a term for this geological period in which Mankind has had an impact. The word itself was only coined around the turn of the century, Strictly speaking, it is not yet an official term. Properly, we remain under the title of the Holocene. However, there has been a working group beavering away at trying to establish proper evidence for there being a geological impact from the surge in population and industry over the past 100-200 years. Only once clearly defined geological strata can be identified as displaying effects from human impact can there be an argument for officially naming the geological period that we now live in as the Anthropocene. The video that has been presented for this movement of the 'concerto' clearly shows something of our impact. 

Ad Astra means (I am sure you are aware) 'to the stars'. The suggestion of the music, clearly presented in the video, is that if Mankind follows the tendency that has been evident throughout history to migrate in search of fresh territory (i.e. leave the planet), then Earth and Nature will recover and restore their balance. If we could but cease from our own worst treatment of the gift we have...

Long-term readers here will know the environment is one of my soap boxes, so I am somewhat predisposed to love this! It is a longer piece, at thirty minutes, and I put it to you that if I had not declared its heavy metal credentials, would you have guessed? I think this is stunning work, every bit as melodic and emotion-filled as any Beethoven, Dvorak or Stravinsky. What say you?