Liven the Reaper

This impromptu music performance was recorded in one take, with no overdubs or pre-recorded parts, on August 17, 2025 in Berlin-Kreuzberg, Germany.

At some point, I felt the need to find one of my late father’s tools: the old scythe he had taught me how to use. I asked my brother, who finally found it in the back of our barn. The rusty scythe inspired Christine to draw a picture of me as the Grim Reaper, as seen on an old tarot card: “Death.”

The Death card in the tarot represents endings, transformation, and new beginnings. It symbolizes the completion of a cycle and the start of something new, often associated with letting go of the old to make room for growth and renewal. This change can be emotional, mental, or situational in nature, and although it is difficult, it ultimately leads to positive results.

But the reaper Christine has depicted isn’t actually grim. He is sitting relaxed on a couch with some flowers by his feet. Eventually, things might not be as dire as they seem at first.

Now my father’s scythe is hanging on the wall in our kitchen, without a real use, but just glinting menacingly at any visitor who might come within sight of it. If anyone has an unmowed patch of lawn, I’m available.

Christine is printing a run of tarot cards as a gift for my subscribers, inspired by my father’s scythe.

This session has been mainly performed using a Sonicware Liven Ambient Synthesizer, which I am grateful to have been lent by Volker Lankow.

credits

Bernhard Wöstheinrich – Keyboards, Synthesizers (Sonicware Liven Ambient) and Sequencers

Editing, mixing and mastering: Markus Reuter
Artwork: Christine Kriegerowski (kriegerowski.org)