Music Maps

This one’s a guest post from the lovely Rosa. If you fancy writing one, then please do! The email address is hello at music-maps.com, or if you simply have an idea for a post then leave a comment on the blog.

In 5th century BC, the Athens Parthenon was built. Eight stunning columns of the doric order were erected at the west and east facade, the sides had 16 columns each. Complex mathematics and sciences were employed to simply plan the building, the golden ratio was used to make sure it appealed to our basic human desire for balance, rhythm and harmony. This was, and still is, a giant in classical architecture.

In 1879, Nashville decided they wanted a piece of the action. Having the nickname ‘The Athens of the South” it was decided it was only appropriate they created a replica (as exact as possible) to the original Parthenon. It was made temporarily at first, from plaster, wood and brick, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of Tennessee joining the United States. In the 1920s it was decided that the Parthenon should become a permanent fixture of the landscape, and they made it all over again, this time using concrete.

Attention to detail is evidently one of Nashville’s strong points, casts were made of the original sculptures found in the ruins at Athens so that Nashville’s sculptures could be as close to the original as possible. More decorations throughout the Parthenon have been painted as close to the colours that were presumably used in ancient Greece as possible. You’ve got to hand it to them- it’s dedication.

In 1990, artist Alan LeQuire recreated the statue that the original Athens was built for, a 41 foot chryselephantine sculpture of The Greek Goddess Athena, who was also the protecter of Athens. But this time it wasn’t a reductive sculpture carefully chipped out of stone or marble, this time it was cast an aluminum structure covered in fibre glass. Yes, that’s right, 41 foot of fibre glass, perhaps not so true to the original. Later, in 2002, it was gilded and painted in bright colours, just like the original would’ve been, well done LeQuire, well done.

I’ll meet you at the Parthenon/That’s the place we always went.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone’s song has a lot less to do with Ancient Greece, than its namesake. The song is a touching plea to a friend, or loved one who has left Nashville, to come home.

Because if I could have my way/I wouldn’t be alone.

The track can be found on the Etiquette album.