Pomegranate — a symbol of the past and the future
In one of the best-known Greek myths about Persephone, she ate a pomegranate given to her by Hades, being unaware of the fruit’s symbolic meaning. Representing passion and marriage, the gift bound her to the cunning god of the Underworld as his wife — and to the fate of dichotomy between life and death. It is a strange, haunting myth — yet, perhaps, one that will be familiar to any artist accustomed to the cycle between the solitude of creative practice, and the joy of presenting that creative work to its audience. But I will return to this later.
As a result of this deception, Perspephone was only allowed to spend half of the year on the Earth, doing so in joy with her mother. Glad and loving, Demeter’s influence on nature gave it the power to spring to life and bear fruit. But when the time came for them to part, Demeter’s despair for her lost child caused her to become mad with sorrow, and the unkempt barren land died and froze as she committed all of her will to searching for her daughter.
So the life of Persephone came to represent the cyclical passing of the seasons, and the dance back and forth between life and death, hope and memory, future and past. From the fruition of crops, ever likely but not certain, that celebrates the present and leads to the future, to withering and wasting and endings, leaving behind only reminiscences of that which was but is no more.
“Melograno” is the Italian word for a pomegranate; an ancient and multifaceted symbol that appears across many Mediterranean cultures. Beyond luxury, abundance, passion, and unified diversity, it symbolises the beginning and the end, alpha and omega. In the religious context, it symbolises the Passion of Christ thanks to its association as being a juncture between life and death, as an event that opened up the possibility of Redemption through the act of death by sacrifice. It is the moment where the past and the future meet.
But the symbolism stands beyond these religious connotations both Christian and ancient (for it is easy to forget that the Greek tale of Demeter and Persephone was itself laden with religious significance once upon a time). The pomegranate embodies the connection between life and death, and all that this entails: the future and the past; the heavenly and the earthly; the eternal and the temporary.
As an ensemble, we draw inspiration from the many-faceted symbolism of this evocative fruit. We seek to represent the conjunctive point between the past and the future, and to facilitate access to deep, meaningful experiences that surpass language and literal representation. We believe that through the study of history and art of the past and witnessing the formation of the universal core of our humanity that withstands the test of time, we can better understand our world nowadays. It is an acquaintance with the past that anchors us in our cultural heritage and encourages us to look to the future with renewed insights and perspectives. And in doing so, we look ahead and seek to create a visionary approach to early music that will continue in merit beyond the contemporary.
Exploring spirituality can be a challenging task nowadays, as it requires time and focus many of us lack. We are constantly surrounded and tired by hustle culture, media noise, and the breathtaking speed of change and innovation across different fields of private and public life. Hence, the encounter between musicians and listeners is almost a revolutionary act of resistance against the exhausting, overwhelming or disheartening elements of life.
We wish to find a moment of focus and honesty among a community which also understands the need to take time to gently nourish themselves. We give ourselves space and conditions to truly be in the moment, delving into experiencing emotionality, connection, and inspiration without the pressure of time or judgment. And we believe this to be a vital part of life, rather than being a luxury few can afford.
Author: Weronika Paine
Edition: Alexander Paine