Magia Potagia (Mego 038, 5" Compact Disc, 2005).
Mastered by Martin Siewert in Vienna.
Cover image by Stephen Sharp.
Keywords: algorithmic composition, rodents, noise, nasty mathematics.
"Punani Potagia" (2003-2004) is the third track in a series of pieces that started in early 2002, involving a combination of complex Frequency Modulation techniques and the use of strange attractors to modulate the synthesis engine.
"Pus Pus Pus" and "Walpurgis" (2001-2002) [*] are part of a series of generative tracks started in 2001 based around the idea of anti-climax, where despite constant nano-changes in pitch and amplitude, there's no relevant variation from beginning to end.
(*) Walpurgis Night - Valborgsmässoafton
When it was about time for spring to arrive the Vikings had a celebration in its honour, they lit bonfires so to hurry along the coming of spring and to scare off evil spirits.
In the year 710 a woman named Valborg/Walpurgis/Wealdburg/Valderburger was born somewhere in northern Europe. According to legend she is supposed to be the daughter of the great king Richard. Her name though would rather suggest a Celtic, German or even a Scandinavian background. The most popular belief is however that she was born somewhere in today's Britain.
During her life she travelled to Germany with her brothers and she founded the Catholic convent Heidenheim in Wurtemburg1, Germany. She later became a nun there. She died the 25th of February 779. That day still carries her name, Valborg, in the Catholic calendar. She was not made a saint until the 1st of May 779.
Now because of the date of her being declared a saint her name became associated with the Viking spring and fertility celebrations which took place at approximately the same time of the year, around the 30th of April. She was worshipped in the same way as the Vikings had worshipped spring. So as the Vikings spread across Europe the two dates became mixed together and produced the Valborg celebration. Valborg was usually symbolised by three oat ears and a small bottle of oil. This was supposed to indicate fertility.
So how big was the religious impact of the Valborgsmäss? This solemnity was most probably just a big excuse to socialise with your friends and neighbours and having a good time. Considering the fact that it took two elements that had really no connection what so ever and made it into a holiday. First we have Valborg, a catholic nun, and then we already have a small spring festivity celebrated by the Vikings. The most probable reason for why the spreading of Valborg is that the rest of Europe wanted yet another fun day. In return for this the celebration received a name, the name of a saint, so that the celebration would be more accepted by the Catholic Church. There probably was no religious impact what so ever, except maybe a small nudge when Scandinavia was supposed to be christened. Valborg is today celebrated without parallels to Christian church or religion.
1. Notice the connection Valborg - Wurtemburg (Wurtemmberg). We cannot know if the saint took her name from the area or if the area was named after her.