#Songs and dances of Death

[de3o2]

This is an editted version of Dmitri Hvorostovsky, The late Russian Baritone singing all parts of M. Mussorgsky's Songs and Dances of Death in 1993 at Proms. This was Dmitri's Proms debut and also the most passionate performance of Songs an Dances of Death from him in my opinion. This is sadly not the full performance but it is very good none the less.

( Not my video )

[onlyhurtforaminute]

SARCOPTES-THE VEIL OF DISILLUSION

[whollysensei]

why am i obsessed with another doomed narrative

[incomingalbatross]

Don't quite know how to put this but there are certain story beats that, in order for me to actually like/admire the story, specifically have to be accomplished without being a big deal.

Like, does your story present ordinary, mundane, even ridiculous people as possessing worth and dignity? Cool. Does it pat itself on the back about doing that? Unfortunately, that has circled back around to patronizing.

Does your character make the lives of bit characters and nameless bystanders a priority, even when it distracts them from Important Plot Things? Nice! Does your character make a big production of/express a lot of angst about doing that? This only barely edges out "leaving them to die" in terms of my respect for said character.

Ordinary people are just as valuable and important as Our Heroes. But the narrative should have enough conviction about that to take it for granted, and let the audience catch up if need be. A Hero should definitely take it for granted, unless they're still in the process of becoming heroic.

Otherwise, I'm left with the sneaking suspicion that the writers don't really see this themselves.

[spiraling-trap]

they give me extreme psychological damage

[hewantshisbrideback]

ARYA STARK AND THE GODS ❦ BOURNE FOR THE GOD OF DEATH

Thirty different gods stood along the walls, surrounded by their little lights. The Weeping Woman was the favorite of old women, Arya saw; rich men preferred the Lion of Night, poor men the Hooded Wayfarer. Soldiers lit candles to Bakkalon, the Pale Child, sailors to the Moon-Pale Maiden and the Merling King. The Stranger had his shrine as well, though hardly anyone ever came to him. Most of the time only a single candle stood flickering at his feet. The kindly man said it did not matter. "He has many faces, and many ears to hear."

The Many-Faced God, also known as Him of Many Faces, is a deity worshipped by the Faceless Men, a guild of assassins established in the Free City of Braavos. The tale of the guild's beginnings centers around a figure of unknown origins, the first Faceless Man, who heard the prayers of the slaves to their various gods of death and came to conclude they all prayed to the same god "with a hundred different faces", the Many-Faced God, and that he was "that god's instrument".

This belief came to be reflected in the Guild's temple, which has a large public sanctuary that contains idols of thirty death gods. The religious order refills its pool of black water with a poison, so that drinking from it leads to a painless death. Visiting worshippers light candles to their god, then drink from the fountain using a stone cup, then go lie in one of the alcoves. Others take advantage of special alcoves, called "dreaming couches", which have special candles that bring visions of the past, for a sweet and gentle death.

Followers of Him of Many Faces consider death to be part of the natural order of things and a merciful end to suffering. The guild will agree to kill anyone in the known world, for a price, considering this contract to be a sacrament of their god. The price is always high or dear, but within means of the person if they are willing to make the sacrifice. The cost of their services also depends on the prominence and security of the target.

The High Valyrian words associated with the cult and its assassins are valar morghulis, or "all men must die", and its traditional response, valar dohaeris, or "all men must serve". This philosophy runs deep. Members are made to forsake their identities for the service of the Many-Faced God, and may only assassinate targets they have been hired to kill. They are not allowed to choose who is worthy of the "gift" by themselves.

[miveus]

¡quién sabe si el sol querrá iluminar nuestra marcha de horror! (magaldi)

[jeyneofpoole]

there is an insufferable manderly footsoldier making shit like this in adwd winterfell i just know it

[sir-adamus]

these people love to just actively ignore that Miles and Kerry were involved with RWB/Y from the start and did all of the writing from the start because Monty brought them on specifically to write the damn thing and flesh out the characters

[jelloholic]

Old Rhaenyra and Lucerys angst art from May.

If it looks familiar, it's bc I posted it on tik tok under the name @succmacucumber

[demadogs]

Lightning crashes, a new mother cries

YELLOWJACKETS | 2.07

[captainhysunstuff]

"You Really Got a Hold on Me" was an interesting choice for a wedding song.

[hoziersong]

david jenkins knows that good queer rep is a relationship with highs and lows so intense that everyone in a fifty-mile radius suffers for it

[cyanbugremix]

Not a day goes by without my brain thinking of the Shaw Pack members being in their early 20s, a year or two of getting to drink together (legally), and going to clubs together

[imbiactually-28]

IF I CAN’T HOLD YOU

REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD YOU