Still Music - Steve Rabone by StevenRabone

Still Music

Steve Rabone

Love, Death and the Beauty In Between

Introduction

What if you took the sound away, could a picture’s composition, together with the historical and cultural meaning of the subject still provide the melody to the words ? Is a photograph still music ? This book of still life photography uses the symbology and life cycle of owers to explore a range of relationships and the connections between them. Light and dark features throughout these pages as you are taken through a mix of emotions. However the relationship between light and dark is explored further with each image shot in the pitch black of the studio, the scene illuminated through the process of light painting. The motions of the hand held torch, similar to the strokes of the painters brush, slowly revealing the owers. Using the latest digital photography equipment and editing techniques the photographs come from a relatively modern age but the lines are blurred between the photography and the art of painting. Are you seeing an image captured on a digital sensor or is the oil still wet upon the artist’s canvas ? The symbology of the owers is emphasised through the use of contemporary music lyrics and song titles but is woven together with the poetic and historical verses of Shakespeare. A further opportunity to consider the relationship between the lyrical poetry of the famous Bard and our current song writers. However above all else this book aims to celebrate the life cycle of owers, the art of their decay and how this represents not only our own relationships but also life as a whole. It looks at love, death and the sheer beauty to be found in between.

Steve Rabone

Love

‘Love had heard that an immortal language never could die: that although silent, it still slept somewhere amongst the owers…’

Thomas Miller, The Poetic Language of Flowers, 1847

Act I. The Infant Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms

There is nothing more to hide, seeing life through closed eyes

A Young Understanding

This love is lifting, the blood is lifting you

Snowblind

Got a thing about you, and it won’t go away

Real Love Song

Act II. The Schoolboy Creeping like snail unwillingly to school

This is not the love you’ve had before, this is something else

Life On Earth

In my kingdom of lust I wait on and on

Valentine

Limb by limb and tooth by tooth tearing up inside of me

Bullet Proof… I Wish I Was

Act III. The Lover Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Always there, it’s standing proudly

Love Is A Wonderful Colour

He brings the devil out of her and puts a smile across her face

Mr & Mrs Smith

Love was passion and there were no crimes

Streets Of Amsterdam

Act IV. The Soldier Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel

I hate the world more than I hate myself

Hold Me Like A Heaven

This heart of mine would rather die

Oh! Vanity

Try to let go of the truth, the battles of your youth

A Beautiful Lie

Act V. The Justice With eyes severe and beard of formal cut

The seed is split, the bed de led

Love Comes Tumbling

Who will be the life blood coursing through my veins

Strength

Who wants love that makes sense anyway?

Wild Heart

Act VI. The Pantaloon His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide

I wish that you were here down amongst the dust

Rust

My God what have we done to you?

Precious

You know I’m such a fool for you

Linger

Act VII. The Second Childishness Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Lay me down on your bed of petals

Love Me To Death

And is sorrow to remind us that life is a moment in time

And It Breaks Me Again

That’s why everything’s got to be love or death

Death

‘ Yes, Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head and listen to the silence. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow.

To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace. You can help me. You can open for me the portraits of Death’s house, for Love is always with you, and Love is stronger than Death is.’

Oscar Wilde, The Canterville Ghost, 1887

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages William Shakespeare

Act I

The Infant

Act II

The Schoolboy

Act III

The Lover

Act IV

The Soldier

Act V

The Justice

Act VI

The Pantaloon

Act VII

The Second Childishness

Track Listing In order of appearance

1. A Young Understanding - Sundara Karma 2. Snowblind - Suede 3. Real Love Song - Nothing But Thieves 4. Life On Earth - Snow Patrol 5. Valentine - Coyle Girelli 6. Bulletproof, I Wish I Was - Radiohead 7. Love Is A Wonderful Colour - The Icicle Works 8. Mr & Mrs Smith - The Stereophonics 9. Streets Of Amsterdam - Richard Ashcroft 10. Love Me Like A Heaven - Manic Street Preachers 11. Oh! Vanity - The Charlatans 12. A Beautiful Lie - 30 Seconds To Mars 13. Love Comes Tumbling - U2 14. Strength - The Alarm 15. Wild Heart - Mumford & Sons 16. Rust - Echo & The Bunnymen 17. Precious - Depeche Mode 18. Linger - The Cranberries 19. Love Me To Death - The Mission 20. And It Breaks Me Again - Gary Numan 21. Death - White Lies

Floriography The meaning and symbology of owers seen in this book (In alphabetical order) 1. Allium This ower symbolises unity, good fortune and prosperity. It is a owering plant belonging to the onion genus and was one of the earliest cultivated plants used in food and medicine. Many cultures believe in its ability to ward o evil spirits. In Christian myth it is said to have blossomed from the devil’s footprints as he left the Garden of Eden. The ower features in ‘Hold Me Like A Heaven’ to support and ward o the evil thoughts and malanthropy of the thistles. 2. Anemone The meaning of this ower is forsaken love and links back to Greek mythology, the ower is said to have sprung from Aphrodite’s tears as she mourned the loss of her beloved Adonis. A light purple anemone is seen in ‘Strength’ clinging to life and the support of the Hellebore as the Twisted Hazel wraps around it. 3. Birds of Paradise This striking tropical plant and ower has a variety of meanings including joyfulness, faithfulness and love. With its vibrant colours, large leaves and magni cent blooms it is frequently associated with luxury and grandeur. The pops of orange are the colour of happiness and enthusiasm. It is also linked with a having a good perspective on life. The twin owers in ‘Love Is A Wonderful Colour’ represents the pure joy and positive emotions of love. 4. Clematis The owers ability to climb up walls drives the main meaning for this ower, one that represents ingenuity and cleverness. It is also linked with mental acuity and wisdom. It’s appearance in ‘Life On Earth’ is used to symbolise the awareness that comes with understanding the true meaning and value of a relationship.. 5. Common Toad ax (Linaria Purperia) Frequently seen growing in wild gardens and grass verges the toad ax symbolises love and the feelings one has for their partner. As a wild ower it has a perfect place within ‘Wild Heart’ as the lyrics impart the songwriters feelings for his love. 6. Chrysanthemum As with many owers, there can be a range of meanings and the Chrysanthemum can be associated with condolences and a token of comfort and is seen at funerals. However it also stands for truth and the petals unravel just as truth is often revealed. They are also seen in wedding bouquets to speak of the bride’s honest and true character. It is the primary ower in ‘Hold Me like A Heaven’ standing for truth and honesty but also comfort against the evil thoughts generated from the thistle. It does however also feature as part of ‘Rust’ a nod back to the condolences being expressed as the owers start to fade. 7. Da odil A common bloom in the spring, the ower is linked to unrequited love. A famous Greek legend tells of Narcissus, a handsome and proud hunter who upon seeing his re ection in the waters of a spring, falls in love with himself. A love that has tragic consequences, unable to part from his own images, he falls into the water and perishes. A da odil blooms to mark his grave.

The da odils in ‘Oh! Vanity’ are perched above their own re ection, as the story of Narcissus connects directly with the negative feelings of vanity.

8. Dandelion A weed from the daisy family it is associated with divination and fortune telling, the latter coming from the common practice of making a wish as the seedheads are blown away. But it does also have other meanings derived from the healing of emotional and physical pain as well as surviving through challenges and di culties. ‘Bullet Proof, I Wish I Was’ brings together both of these meanings in the desire to be able to take on the world and everything that is thrown at us. 9. Fritillaria This unique looking ower carries a range of symbolic meanings ranging from persecution to humbleness and sorrow. It is also a symbol of devotion beyond death and is commonly used to add a romantic element when red ones are used. A small Fritillaria is seen in ‘Strength’ to accompany the Hellebore and Anemone in their battle with the twisted hazel, itself a representation of ageing. 10. Gerbera Another ower from the daisy family, they have several meanings but all lean towards happiness. The Egyptians felt Gerbera’s had a closeness to nature and a devotion to the sun whilst the Celts believed that the ower would lessen the sorrows and stress of everyday life. The Gerbera is seen with the sun owers in ‘A Beautiful Lie’ to acknowledge and lessen the pain of deceit captured within the frame. 11. Hellebore Despite its reputation for being poisonous, the ower has been used for medicinal purposes by herbalists throughout ancient times, using it to treat a variety of ailments. As a result it frequently means we shall overcome. Some have considered it to have magical powers, at times associated with witchcraft, but as a hardy plant it is also linked to toughness. The main feature in ‘Strength’ this ower stands rm and ghts against the twisted hazel and the ravages of time. 12. Iris This ower has long been associated with power and victory and has meanings linked to valour, wisdom and faith. The Iris does however also herald as a messenger. In mythology Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and was therefore the link between heaven and earth. It was felt she brought messages of hope to mortals on earth. The ower is included in the ‘Rust’ bouquet to symbolise the hope that is still evident in the beauty of the owers despite their decay. 13. Lily The lily is a ower of great beauty and stature, commonly felt to be a symbol of excellence and one without equal. It equally carries a meaning of purity and was associated with the Virgin Mary. Fresh Lilies feature in ‘A Young Understanding’ as the the purity and love is yet to bloom, the image representing the very start of the journey from Love to Death. Lilles are again seen in ‘A Beautiful Lie’ and are the beauty to counter the deceit of the sun owers. As a ower without equal we then see a third image of the lilies in ‘Linger’ as the petals and vibrant colours fade away, and yet the ower’s beauty continues to cling onto life. 14. Lisianthus A ower that represents a life long bond between two people, they are commonly seen in wedding decorations and anniversary gifts. The pink variety evoke feelings of romance, passion, love and a ection whilst the white ones symbolise purity, spirituality and a life long bond.

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Both the pink and white Lisianthus are seen in ‘Streets of Amsterdam’ a song of undying love.

15. Orchid The Orchid’s colourful, delicate and shapely petals portray elegance and beauty. It became an exotic luxury during the Victorian era, when only the wealthy could a ord this expensive bloom. The plant has an almost hypnotic beauty and is frequently included in wedding bouquets to symbolise beauty. This ower is the centrepiece of the wedding bouquet in ‘Snowblind’ and signi es the purity that comes with a new love and the commitment to a relationship. 16. Peonies These owers symbolise a number of di erent things from prosperity, love and honour. However from ancient Greece one of the most common meanings for this ower emerged, that of bashfulness. It was said that nymphs would turn themselves into peony owers to avoid being seeing by humans. In full bloom the petals curl inward to protect their delicate centres. Their colours also add extra meaning with the white denoting the shyness whilst red symbolising the more overt love and passion. The red and white peonies in ‘Real Love Song’ are combined to bring to life the lover’s crush and hopes that their feelings will be reciprocated . 17. Rose The rose is perhaps the most commonly associated ower with love. It’s delicate petals, freshness, fragrance and gracefulness have been an emblem of the strong feelings that link two people. Victorians considered the colour of the rose as the representation of the level of this a ection. White roses for innocent love, pink for blossoming romance, yellow for friendship and deep red for passion. The white roses in ‘Snowblind’ accompany the orchids in the wedding bouquet, a further sign that this represents the start of the relationship. The deep red roses in ‘Valentine’ emphasise the passion and lust that exists. Roses of all colours are again seen in ‘And It Breaks Me Again’ to symbolise the death of the many levels of love, the owers lay at akin to a graveside setting. 18. Sun ower This ower is frequently considered to represent false riches and deceit. In ancient Peru, the Spanish conquistadores arrived and were excited with the abundance of wealth and treasures. They were drawn to the elds of gold only to be disappointed to nd that they their endeavours had merely led them to elds of sun owers and not untold riches. The Sun ower is the main feature of ‘A Beautiful Lie’ and is used to represent the deceit that can exist as the beauty begins to fade with age. 19. Sweet Peas Again with so many owers the Sweet Pea can have a range of meanings including blissful and delicate pleasure. They are also associated with both gratitude and loyalty in friendship. They are included in ‘Wild Heart’ along with other wild owers to represent the pleasure and loyalty that exists in all relationships. 20. Thistle The meaning for this ower is one of misanthropy, a hatred of mankind. The pretty purple owerhead is protected by a cup of erce spikes that leave you in no doubt as to the thistle’s intention, stay away from me. The thistle is a key part of “Hold Me Like Heaven’ and links directly to the hatred of the world in the lyrics. 21. Tulip The meaning of this ower is a declaration of love and ones devotion to each other. Turkish legend tells of two lovers, Ferhad and Shirin. When Ferhad hears a rumour that Shirin has taken her own life, he kills himself to be with her to eternity. Tulips are symbols of this devotion as they spring up where his blood was spilled. Their colours can o er further meanings including orange tulips that symbolise a forbidden or hidden love. The red tulips in ‘Love Comes Tumbling’ link back to Turkish legend as the one ower lays fallen beneath the mourning second ower.

We also see the orange tulips in ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’ as symbols of the passion and excitement that exists between two lovers.

Still Music All images taken by Steve Rabone