Gothic Lolita Punk blog La Carmina
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SOPOR AETERNUS: GERMAN DARKWAVE BAND, BUTOH GODDESS ANNA-VARNEY CANTODEA, NEO-MEDIEVAL MUSIC.


Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, visual darkwave melancholy neoclassical German band, neo Medieval Goth music artist, pre-operative transsexual, butoh facepaint, transexuality, removal of male genitalia.

Oh dear, my infatuation with Sopor Aeternus doesn’t seem to end. I was driven to make a YouTube playlist and play it on repeat. Vulnerable and beautiful, melancholy and Medieval. Or as described by the Goddess creator, “music for dead children [and otherwise wounded souls], that is all.”

Wax the monkey, shave the bear
Jungle-creatures cannot come in here.
Trim the hedges and cut the trees
then you’ll know how affection feels.
-from Shave, if you Love Me

Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, Anna-Varney Cantodea, visual darkwave neoclassical German band, neo Medieval Goth music artist, pre-operative transsexual, butoh facepaint, transexuality, trans-woman removal of male genitalia.

Anna-Varney Cantodea, aka The Goddess, is a kindred spirit to Visual Kei. Her aesthetics are heavily inspired by butoh, a Japanese performance art that I am also rather obsessed with. She says: “It offered me a visual outlet for the pain I was carrying inside of me… which, as I believed at the time, had not really been visible before. Butoh taught me the meaning of (true) beauty… and where it is to be found.” “It confronts us with the dark(er) side(s) of (human) nature… and if we only dare to take a look at it, it even reveals its hidden (as often denied) beauty.”

gender reassignment surgery, transsexual photos, pre-op tranny, Sopor Aeternus CD covers, neo Baroque and Medieval music, Gothic German darkwave, butoh makeup, scary ghost portraits.

Some of my favorites tracks are “We Have a Dog to Exercise,” “Shave, if you Love Me,” and “In der Palästra.” There’s something about Sopor Aeternus’s music/lyrics/visuals that speak to me – what do you think? We’ll make Song of the Day #130 my Sopor Aeternus playlist and you can listen along with me!

PS: Just got back from Pixar’s UP, a whimsical and charming film. Highly recommended; go see it in 3D!

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 10:44 pm and is filed under People + Pets, Visual Kei + Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.


  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    PS – someone asked if it was okay if they followed me on Twitter. It's more than okay – I encourage you to, and chat me any time! I'll try to post helpful links, recommendations, quotes, etc in addition to blog updates. Don't worry, I won't post narcissistic tweets like “I'm eating sushi and you're not.” ;)

    http://twitter.com/lacarmina <———– let's be friends!

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    PS – someone asked if it was okay if they followed me on Twitter. It’s more than okay – I encourage you to, and chat me any time! I’ll try to post helpful links, recommendations, quotes, etc in addition to blog updates. Don’t worry, I won’t post narcissistic tweets like “I’m eating sushi and you’re not.” ;)

    http://twitter.com/lacarmina <———– let's be friends!

  • http://scatterindepth.blogspot.com Laura

    I think that your use of the keywords “Pre-op transsexual photo's” is a bit…

    You don't talk about this side of the artist at all in your post. It might be a bit more prudent to add information about why your tagging that to your post because the transgendered community is understandably somewhat sensitive to how and why the title is used.

  • Lucifel

    I've stalked here for some time now, but this topic really forces me to open my (virtual) mouth first time.
    I'm a huge fan of Sopor Aeternus. She/he is one of the very rare examples of real dedication and sincerity, compared to a lot gothic bands that seem only posers. Because my fascination with dark and depressing stuff started with very old horror literature, I was surprised, that someone these days would still do it this well.

    My favorite songs are from earlier albums. “Hades Pluton” is my particular favorite, because I like weird Antique things. My other favorites are every one of the songs she has based of Edgar Allan Poe's poetry (such as “Sleeper”, which is on Youtube) who is my favorite poet. I also recommend the CD “Es reiten die Toten so schnell” which is vampire-themed and manages to achieve the impossible= it makes vampires seem truly sad, frightening and tortured.

    Sopor Aeternus made me find out about butoh. My hobby is Gothic Oriental dance, which seems quite silly in comparison. I'd still like to move as menacingly, as Anna Varney does in her video “The Goat”

  • http://www.nameoftherose.net Laura

    I think that your use of the keywords “Pre-op transsexual photo’s” is a bit…

    You don’t talk about this side of the artist at all in your post. It might be a bit more prudent to add information about why your tagging that to your post because the transgendered community is understandably somewhat sensitive to how and why the title is used.

  • Lucifel

    I’ve stalked here for some time now, but this topic really forces me to open my (virtual) mouth first time.
    I’m a huge fan of Sopor Aeternus. She/he is one of the very rare examples of real dedication and sincerity, compared to a lot gothic bands that seem only posers. Because my fascination with dark and depressing stuff started with very old horror literature, I was surprised, that someone these days would still do it this well.

    My favorite songs are from earlier albums. “Hades Pluton” is my particular favorite, because I like weird Antique things. My other favorites are every one of the songs she has based of Edgar Allan Poe’s poetry (such as “Sleeper”, which is on Youtube) who is my favorite poet. I also recommend the CD “Es reiten die Toten so schnell” which is vampire-themed and manages to achieve the impossible= it makes vampires seem truly sad, frightening and tortured.

    Sopor Aeternus made me find out about butoh. My hobby is Gothic Oriental dance, which seems quite silly in comparison. I’d still like to move as menacingly, as Anna Varney does in her video “The Goat”

    • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

      I’ve never heard of Gothic Oriental dance! Do you have any links to resources or videos? Sounds fascinating.

      The term “depressing music” makes me think of whining or self-absorption… and it’s amazing how none of that is present in Sopor Aeternus. The songs render these emotions almost transcendent…

      • Lucifel

        http://www.gothicbellydance.com/gothicbellydance/main.html

        There are also videos on Youtube. I don’t like the term “gothic bellydance” but it seems to be the term mostly used in english-speaking countries. Other terms are the “gothic oriental dance” or “Raqs Gothigue”.

        • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

          Ohhh my friend wrote an article about this for LA Weekly – it was the first time I’d heard of it. I also am not fond fond of the word “bellydance” haha, but this is much more than that, I think… like something out of an Oriental painting.

    • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

      Listening to Pluton right now… such a good song.

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    You're absolutely right – I was initially going to write more about her sexuality and expression, but then decided not to. Those interested can check out the Sopor Wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopor_Aeternus_&_T…

    :)

  • Eemi

    wowowowowow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    i just adore it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Maleva

    i am gotten passionate by the theater noh zeami motokiyo is fantastic…….onna mono is my predilect…..perfect blog……

  • Torii Lee

    Those photographs alone are amazing and powerful!

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    There's a surprising power in the music and images…

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    I saw a Butoh performance in NYC and it blew me away! The torture of the human body…

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    I've never heard of Gothic Oriental dance! Do you have any links to resources or videos? Sounds fascinating.

    The term “depressing music” makes me think of whining or self-absorption… and it's amazing how none of that is present in Sopor Aeternus. The songs render these emotions almost transcendent…

  • Eemi

    wowowowowow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    i just adore it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Maleva

    i am gotten passionate by the theater noh zeami motokiyo is fantastic…….onna mono is my predilect…..perfect blog……

    • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

      I saw a Butoh performance in NYC and it blew me away! The torture of the human body…

  • Torii Lee

    Those photographs alone are amazing and powerful!

    • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

      There’s a surprising power in the music and images…

      • Dragonswyng

        agreed

  • Lucifel

    http://www.gothicbellydance.com/gothicbellydanc…

    There are also videos on Youtube. I don't like the term “gothic bellydance” but it seems to be the term mostly used in english-speaking countries. Other terms are the “gothic oriental dance” or “Raqs Gothigue”.

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    Ohhh my friend wrote an article about this for LA Weekly – it was the first time I'd heard of it. I also am not fond fond of the word “bellydance” haha, but this is much more than that, I think… like something out of an Oriental painting.

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    Listening to Pluton right now… such a good song.

  • Ayame

    Sopor Aeternus is superb. Inspires me a lot and eventually stumbled upon Butoh which links me to Anna Varney. My drama class is doing a scene from Macbeth but since I was the artistic director, I came out with the idea of using Butoh to do it. Not simple, but it turned out really well. Have to take care of all the makeup and lighting. The thing I love about Butoh…. it's so simple, yet deep and meaningful.

  • Ayame

    Sopor Aeternus is superb. Inspires me a lot and eventually stumbled upon Butoh which links me to Anna Varney. My drama class is doing a scene from Macbeth but since I was the artistic director, I came out with the idea of using Butoh to do it. Not simple, but it turned out really well. Have to take care of all the makeup and lighting. The thing I love about Butoh…. it’s so simple, yet deep and meaningful.

    • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

      I’m fascinated by Butoh – I even write about it in my upcoming Theme Restaurants book. I try to see performances at every opportunity.

      Butoh + Macbeth makes so much sense. It must have been a gorgeous production.

      • Ayame

        Hmm it’s not done yet ^^ the production is on the 22nd of June. Will post some pictures if available.

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    I'm fascinated by Butoh – I even write about it in my upcoming Theme Restaurants book. I try to see performances at every opportunity.

    Butoh + Macbeth makes so much sense. It must have been a gorgeous production.

  • Historian

    Sorry, but this is not medieval or neo-medieval in any sense. Goths lose cred when they forget about the High Gothic period (11th-13th centuries approx.) and the Neo-Gothic appropriations of it by antiquarians after the Middle Ages (see Horace Walpole in the 18th century, e.g.). La Carmina you should know better! You went to law school right next door to Beinecke library, where the original, truly medieval, Gothic aesthetic is housed in one of the world's best manuscript collections! Use medieval correctly please– your blog is so cool otherwise, why not be book smart and street smart?

    xoxox
    an historian

  • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

    Hi,
    Thanks for your comment! I should have expanded more on that term… I was referring to the Medieval folk influences in the music – the flutes, pipes, oboes (shawm? hahah I took Music History for several years) – combined with modern percussion and synth in some of the tracks.

    All this can definitely be part of a Gothic aesthetic! From Sopor Aeternus's official MySpace, which is closely watched by Anna-Varney Cantodea:

    “Though their music playfully fuses elements of classical, baroque, medieval, and even electronic music, the essence of SOPOR AETERNUS & THE ENSEMBLE OF SHADOWS always remains entirely »Goth«. “

    Hope that helps clear things up… I really appreciate your comment! xoxo

  • Historian

    Thanks for your (amazingly quick!) reply.

    This is probably not your problem, but a brief clarification is in order here. First of all, there were no pianos in medieval Europe! The baroque semi-equivalent is a harpsichord. Medieval musicians were likely to use recorders rather than flutes, crumhorns rather than reed instruments we associate with orchestral music now, and very little that sounds like modern synth (not that I don't love synth!). Remember, just 'cause it has a Latin name doesn't make it medieval. In fact, most medieval attitudes toward death and decay are likely to be at odds with modern Goth culture– a look at reliquaries might tell you that, or at Scholastic philosophies of the eternity of the Trinity for that matter.

    That said, your comments on the aesthetic of the band are great– even if it seems more Francis Bacon than 13th century High Gothic. Do forgive me for being grumpy about precision in terms, but medieval gets overused for things like giant turkey legs and princess dresses when it should be used in an accurate historical context. Gothic Lolita as a phrase drives a lot of scholarly people nuts because it isn't *Gothic* in the sense that the term is used art historically, and it doesn't really play off the Nabakovian implications of its name. Not that we should necessarily require this of fashion, but properly speaking, it's neither Gothic nor is it meant, in my understanding, to provoke the interest of pedophiles. How about changing the name to something involving 'kawaii' and 'neo-Rococo'? Aesthetics can be a lifestyle, I get it, but don't you want to divorce the lifestyle from connotations it does not imply?

    with love from the ivory tower,
    - H

  • Historian

    Sorry, but this is not medieval or neo-medieval in any sense. Goths lose cred when they forget about the High Gothic period (11th-13th centuries approx.) and the Neo-Gothic appropriations of it by antiquarians after the Middle Ages (see Horace Walpole in the 18th century, e.g.). La Carmina you should know better! You went to law school right next door to Beinecke library, where the original, truly medieval, Gothic aesthetic is housed in one of the world’s best manuscript collections! Use medieval correctly please– your blog is so cool otherwise, why not be book smart and street smart?

    xoxox
    an historian

    • http://www.lacarmina.com lacarmina

      Hi,
      Thanks for your comment! I should have expanded more on that term… I was referring to the Medieval folk influences in the music – the flutes, pipes, oboes (shawm? hahah I took Music History for several years) – combined with modern percussion and synth in some of the tracks.

      All this can definitely be part of a Gothic aesthetic! From Sopor Aeternus’s official MySpace, which is closely maintained by Anna-Varney Cantodea:

      “Though their music playfully fuses elements of classical, baroque, medieval, and even electronic music, the essence of SOPOR AETERNUS & THE ENSEMBLE OF SHADOWS always remains entirely »Goth«. ”

      Hope that helps clear things up… I really appreciate your comment! xoxo

      • Historian

        Thanks for your (amazingly quick!) reply.

        This is probably not your problem, but a brief clarification is in order here. First of all, there were no pianos in medieval Europe! The baroque semi-equivalent is a harpsichord. Medieval musicians were likely to use recorders rather than flutes, crumhorns rather than reed instruments we associate with orchestral music now, and very little that sounds like modern synth (not that I don’t love synth!). Remember, just ’cause it has a Latin name doesn’t make it medieval. In fact, most medieval attitudes toward death and decay are likely to be at odds with modern Goth culture– a look at reliquaries might tell you that, or at Scholastic philosophies of the eternity of the Trinity for that matter.

        That said, your comments on the aesthetic of the band are great– even if it seems more Francis Bacon than 13th century High Gothic. Do forgive me for being grumpy about precision in terms, but medieval gets overused for things like giant turkey legs and princess dresses when it should be used in an accurate historical context. Gothic Lolita as a phrase drives a lot of scholarly people nuts because it isn’t *Gothic* in the sense that the term is used art historically, and it doesn’t really play off the Nabakovian implications of its name. Not that we should necessarily require this of fashion, but properly speaking, it’s neither Gothic nor is it meant, in my understanding, to provoke the interest of pedophiles. How about changing the name to something involving ‘kawaii’ and ‘neo-Rococo’? Aesthetics can be a lifestyle, I get it, but don’t you want to divorce the lifestyle from connotations it does not imply?

        with love from the ivory tower,
        - H

  • Dragonswyng

    agreed

  • Ayame

    Hmm it's not done yet ^^ the production is on the 22nd of June. Will post some pictures if available.

  • Ayame

    Hmm it's not done yet ^^ the production is on the 22nd of June. Will post some pictures if available.

  • Anonymous

    Gothic designs are so unique . I like German Gothic fashion because it looks unique and black is a contemporary color so any color will go with black . Black also makes me look slimmer and I like it . I learned this fashion tip from fashion styling group @866-565-7541

  • farayankee

    Gothic designs are so unique . I like German Gothic fashion because it looks unique and black is a contemporary color so any color will go with black . Black also makes me look slimmer and I like it . I learned this fashion tip from http://www.vedicimage.com/&#39; title='The Vedic Image Group rel=”nofollow”>fashion styling group @866-565-7541