 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2016-07-09 06:13
Anyone else find their music affected by outside events? All the violence in the news lately, and some of the responses to it that I've read, build up and sit heavily in the back of my head, and they demand my awareness even when I'm trying to think of other things. It puts me in a sad and angry mood, and that carries over into practice. It makes it harder to focus. Today I got in three hours practice, but it wasn't good. Technical things were tight, expression was rough, sound wasn't good. I ended up spending all the time on relatively few things, just playing slow to make them smooth. I'm glad it was just practice - what if performing was the order of the day?
How do people filter real, important, frustrating, external stuff out? Or better, turn it off so it can't even be felt. Or should it be felt?
I recall something about the great pianist, Josef Hoffman; his astounding Casimir Hall recital (recorded) was played just after he'd been told he was being canned as director of the Curtis school. I wonder how much of his in-your-face interpretative choices that day were expressions of anger.
Ha, another time, the great pianist Maria Yudina gave a recital during WWII, and another great pianist, Heinrich Neuhaus, was in the audience. After the concert, a skeptical Neuhaus asked Yudina why she chose to play an introspective Bach Prelude at fortissimo from beginning to end, and she snapped back, "Because we're at war!"
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-07-09 06:36
For me it is quite the opposite. I find playing is my refuge from all the frustrations and things that aren't going well in other aspects of the world. Mozart (and frankly, any of the wonderful composers) provides order and beauty in a day where that may not otherwise seem present.
Sometimes the particular logistics of a concert may cause some consternation, but it is not related to ANYTHING else but the concertizing itself.
Music is my refuge.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2016-07-09 07:33
For me you both make really strong points. I've subscribed to each depending on circumstances, and sometimes both concurrently: each to some extent cancelling the other out at these times they play against each other.
Phillip, if it's of any use, I try to remain appreciative of the fact that I am, and hopefully will be able to make, not just listen to music for a long time.
Post Edited (2016-07-09 07:38)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2016-07-09 13:05
Listen again to Hoffman's Casimir Hall recital. It's some of his greatest playing. By the way, he was far gone in alcoholism by that point. He sobered up to show everybody what he could do.
On the larger point, everyone's playing is affected by external events, but it's possible to play through it. Myra Hess played great recitals during the London Blitz, and in Landowska's wonderful Scarlatti recordings, you can hear German cannons thundering in the background. Put your whole mind and whole heart in the music.
And Mozart was dying when he wrote K. 622.
Ken Shaw
Post Edited (2016-07-09 13:07)
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2016-07-09 17:14
Of course our music is affected by the world around us--we're human! My main reason in playing (and especially in teaching) music is to CONNECT with other people through it. If the world around me didn't inform these moments, I'd be a hunk of stone! BTW for 11 years I lived about 2 blocks away from the shooting here in MN. It saddens me immensely, as do all of the reports of violence from everywhere (LA, TX, Syria, etc., etc.).
I refer and defer to the great Leonard Bernstein:
http://www.leonardbernstein.com/images/lb_jfk_speech.jpg
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-07-09 23:56
Just saw this, thought it apropos:
"There is one piece of music that puts me in a place that no other music does. It's called Four Last Songs, written by Richard Strauss. Particularly a performance by Gundula Janowitz. It can definitely bring me to tears". David Bowie in Rolling Stone, Oct 2003.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Wes
Date: 2016-07-10 01:39
Yesterday morning, I played my clarinet at an outside patio concert and ceremony at the Los Angeles Police Building in downtown Los Angeles at 8:00 am. When the LAPD bus arrived with the band, about 100 protesters were in the street, with Snoop Dogg and the gang at their head, protesting the police activities in other cities.
We played the affair with no hitches at all. I assume the protesters were paid to protest. It was well attended with the Los Angeles mayor and police chief thanking the band before their speeches. Afterwards, we were carefully escorted to the bus and left. For my part, I have never played better.
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2016-07-10 01:54
Wes wrote:
> I assume the protesters were paid to protest.
Why on Earth would you possibly assume that?
Actually I don't want to get into it, but I couldn't let it go without comment. I'm glad you had a good gig.
I'm done now and off to practice! Sorry for the brief diversion from a worthwhile thread.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2016-07-10 03:30
The discussion, or rather, rhetoric around the recent violence, some by my own family members, is so intense - and to my mind, wrongly conceived - that really that's what has gotten to me even more than the terrible events. If ordinary people draw the kind of lines being drawn, then there's no promise of fixing anything. There's a (cognitive) dissonance presented that's starker than any atonal piece I've heard. So yes, music is often my escape and special joy, but right now an even more basic "me" is wanting something, something basic to everyone. One of the sad lessons I've observed in life is that music has limits. Maybe there is no deeper answer.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-07-10 03:43
Paul Aviles wrote:
"Just saw this, thought it apropos:
"There is one piece of music that puts me in a place that no other music does. It's called Four Last Songs, written by Richard Strauss. Particularly a performance by Gundula Janowitz. It can definitely bring me to tears". David Bowie in Rolling Stone, Oct 2003."
So I had to check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYOGaEdGkKg&list=PLtOytDEBwGKge_jAHk4WZhR7-gldJ2ZKo
Thanks for the heads up on this! The recording I have is Jessye Norman with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and this recording by Gundula Janowitz is one I can definitely get to know better.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2016-07-10 04:25)
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Author: mmatisoff
Date: 2016-07-10 04:18
I agree with you and Paul. We live in dangerous times. We're bombarded with horrible events, terrorism, war, etc. I seek respite in my clarinet. It's the only thing I do that releases me from those things that are out of my control. When I'm practicing, there is nothing but my music. My music studio is my sanctuary. When I enter it, the only thing on my mind is music.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2016-07-10 12:10
The real problem these days is that we're being bombarded with news of the worlds events. Most of this concerns unhappy , sad , violent events ect. And quite often you only get half the facts as to what actually happen due to shoddy presentations and sensationalism
My approach is to shut down the TV / Computer News ect ect. from time to time and just get on with my own little happy contented life and Clarinets are an part of that life. (and Oboe/Flute/Recorder) Oh, and I also like to just switch off in other ways as well such as walk the dog. Do house renovations. Go watch a funny movie. Enjoy looking after grandchildren ect.
I have no need to keep in touch with everything that is happening is this sad sorry world of ours.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2016-07-10 12:23
This explains it far better than I can. Type this into Search.
"News is bad for you – and giving up reading it will make you happier"
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2016-07-10 12:28)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-07-10 18:31
Wow Wes, great story. That will be an event you'll remember for awhile!
I see we are putting this in the context of the last week. Those of who lived through the '60s can see an improvement, as bumpy as that may be. I think our President said it best when he mentioned that even landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act doesn't magically make all our social problems go away.
I also don't advocate shutting it out. We are all human and even more importantly citizens of the broader community. But I do think very strongly that art can help make things better in its ability to point to best in all of us. There was a "NBC Today" piece today featuring Misty Copeland. She doesn't really perceive herself as a celebrity, but her accomplishments in her art of the dance do function as a powerful example for ALL the rest of us.
....................Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2016-07-10 18:37)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-07-10 19:18
What with everything going on in the world right now, am I being heartless in avoiding watching the international news or would that be considered being blissfully ignorant?
I take a great deal of comfort in music - always have done even before I could play a note. Seems to be a powerful and reliable refuge when the whole world is falling or being torn apart around you.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2016-07-11 19:39
As a music junkie, I do find refuge in practicing or listening. However, I'm just as much of a news junkie (when I can get real news, instead of panels of pundits going blah blah blah blah blah).
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2016-07-11 21:07
Playing really good music with and for others is one of the few things we can do that can make other people's lives better without making any of them worse, regardless of their political, religious or philosophical views. It's a lot more than a refuge.
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2016-07-11 23:24
I was lucky to be among several thousand music fans who shared a poignant moment last night that relates to this thread. The event was Brian Wilson at the Hollywood Bowl playing the Pet Sounds album. After a lively encore of early Beach Boys hits Brian announces that they have one last song for us and proceeds with his beautiful ballad "Love and Mercy". No speech, no video projections - just one perfect little lyric change in the line that starts at around 45 seconds, giving a nod to the current situation. That change and the crowd's reaction to it was heartfelt and healing to be part of. A most human moment made possible by a great song at the right time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KpPclg4LmM
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