Hi there,

I’m one of those people who like to think of this world as a chaotic accident, but the more I contemplate it there is more intrinsic order at work here than I could possibly imagine. Cycles are everywhere, in nature, in our bodies and our behavior. As I write this I am watching the weather here in Sydney slowly evolve into the height of summer where 30 plus Celsius days a de rigeur, while my colleague Doreen is watching the leaves of Berlin go from green to gold and then disappear completely, making way for the all encompassing white snow. I’ll be avoiding the sun with sunscreen, hats and sunglasses while she’ll be wishing for its presence. This cycle reminds me the globe we occupy is immense and varied. We have no control. Its raining in Sydney today and I’m reminded of the water cycle. Its influence on our everyday is undeniable and as I contemplate this cycle of rain and evaporation I’m reminded of timelessness and a sense universality. Maybe we’re not all so different.

As it often happens, my mind strays again to cycles in music and in art. I’m thinking about Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians (and then, fittingly, It’s Gonna Rain!). Here cycles, or loops, create the basis for his almost all his compositions albeit a lot faster than the water cycle. What about Vivaldi’s Four Seasons? Could you think of a more appropriate ode to the weather? At the moment I’m learning Neilsen’s beautiful Clarinet Concerto. Its dark harmonies are a silent scream of darkness in a Nordic winter and a pleasant contrast to the all pervading Australian sunshine. Yayoi Kusama and her endless polka dots are another thought: “…a polka-dot has the form of the sun, which is a symbol of the energy of the whole world and our living life, and also the form of the moon, which is calm. Round, soft, colorful, senseless and unknowing. Polka-dots become movement… Polka dots are a way to infinity.”

As I look over my music collection, its clear to see what a subconscious influence these cycles have on us. I’ve got play lists titled “rainy” and “summer 2011” which Doreen and I will be sharing with you. We’ve got interviews and features that will keep your mind from stagnating from the heat or the cold. Read, like, follow and let us know your thoughts. We need you, dear reader, to perpetuate the cycle you see!

Stay cool,

Megan