“Time present and time past Are both perhaps present in time future”
– T.S Eliot
“Except for the still point there would be no dance and there is only the dance”
– T.S. Eliot
Present tense and past tense
may both be present in the near future
and the time to come is in the past.
Without the quiet point there would be no dance,
and there is only dance
In the concluding stanzas of the Four Quartets, T.S. Eliot writes about the fire and the rose:
everything must be turned for the better
when the flames bend
in the crowned knot of fireand fire and rose are one.
Carolyn Carlson was the artistic director of the Cullberg Ballet from 1993-1995. Sub Rosa was Carlsson’s first work created expressly for the Cullberg Ballet and had its premiere at Dansens Hus, Stockholm in January of 1995. The primary themes of the work were time, dance, fire and the rose. Inspirations included the poetry of Fernando Pessoas, T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets as well as a book by William Edelen titled Towards The Mystery, about the dreams of Albert Einstein. Finally, and not least, the versatility and talent of the dancers played a major role in the creation of the piece The performers in Sub Rosa not only danced but also played music. Bernard Cauchard, a member of the company at the time, played both accordion and organ while his colleague Yvan Auzely read lyrics and danced. Another dancer, Vanessa McIntosh, designed the costumes. Additionally the piece featured a bold light design and imaginative scenography.
As a devout Zen Buddhist, Carolyn Carlson has a particular interest in the conception and experience of presence and time. Her thoughts on time are summarized in Towards The Mystery, by William Edelen:
“Einstein once pointed out that among the peoples of the earth, a 12-year-old Hopi Indian would be best prepared to understand his theory of relativity because Hopis have no expression of time, neither past time nor future. Time for them is merely swirling space where past, present and future time are one and the same concept. Behind and beyond our senses is a layer of consciousness in which everything is related. Everything is one and everything is NOW.”
* The Romans considered the rose as symbolizing a pact of secrecy. It was hung above the table at a traditional banquet, a symbolic reminder that what was uttered there should remain confidential. (Source Nordic Family Book)
Detailed information on the music of Sub Rosa:
Act 1
Specter by John Oswald
Publisher: Short Stories, Kronos Quartet, Elektra Nonesuch
7559-79310-2
Four for tango by Astor Piazzola
Publisher: Winter was hard, Kronos Quartet, Elektra Nonesuch 7559-79181-2
An eye for optical theory by Michael Nyman
Publisher: Short cuts, the Michael Nyman Band, Argo
443-396-2
The Old Tower of Löbenicht by Gavin Bryars
Publisher: After the requiem, ECM new series 1424
Balada Conducatorolui av Sapo Perapaskero
Publisher: Latcho Drom, Taraf de Haidouks, Virgin
72438 392492-9
Bella by bar light, The good and happy army, A woman can take … by John Lurie
Publisher: Winter wass hard, Kronos Quartet, Elektra Nonesuch
7559-79181-2
Stranger than paradise, The Paradise Quartet
Publisher: Made to Measure, MTM 7 CD
The sex of Chris Fitkin
Publisher: Short Cuts, Piano Circus, Argo
443 396-2
Cossacks farewell (Trad.)
Publisher: The Terem Quartet, Real Worlds Records
77778-62842-2
Simfonia Lubova by Igor Ponomarenko
Publisher: The Terem Quartet, Real Worlds Records
77778-62842-2
Danse de la Mariee by Micha Nisimov
Publisher: Les Yeux Noirs, A Band of Gypsies, Buda Musique
82840-2
Dance Roumaine by Eric Slabiak
Publisher: Les Yeux Noirs, A Band of Gypsies, Buda Musique
82840-2
Le Chale bleu by Francois Perchat
Publisher: Les Yeux Noirs, A Band of Gypsies, Buda Musique
82840-2
Morange … almost a tango by Thomas Oboe Lee
Publisher: White Man Sleeps, Kronor Quartet, Elektra Nonesuch
7559-79163-2
Crossing by Paul Giger
Publisher: Chartre, ECM New Series 1386
Act 2
String Quartet No. 1, The Sinking of the Titanic, Sub Pink by Gavin Bryars14.
Publisher: Three Viennese Dancers, Adritti String Qaurtet, ECM New Series 1323
The sinking of the Titanic, Crepuscule TW1 922-2
Vita Nova, Gavin Bryars Ensemble, ECM New Series 1533