While in Colorado, I had the opportunity to visit with a group of my friends/music students from metro, at yogurt-land, (the college I went to) I brought up the value of art question. I figured this would be a good time and a good group of people to ask, who better than a group of people who have decided to devote there lives to art. I didn’t get many answers...
I was honestly a little surprised...
In all fairness all I could think about at Metro was keeping my head above water (Metro was a really hard school (which is one of the things I really loved about it (I would not be the musician that I am today without that school))). In the midst of school the last thing I was thinking about was the value of art. I knew that I wanted to study music. I often wondered why, but I ran out of time...
In the conversation at yogurt-land I brought up what Rebecca had said about the value of the creative process, Melia (a lovely soprano, who is a performance major) piggy backed off of that idea, and mentioned how my creative process (being that I am composer) inspires a different type of creative process for a performer. I hadn’t considered that.
As I write this I realize that I am omitting something.
The last conversation I had in Colorado was with Katie Kline at the original waffle house (I miss that place (Bacon Waffles(!))).
I really like Katie, she is really good at being honest, and seemingly doesn’t know how to not speak her mind. Her response to me was what I have been omitting: She asked if I enjoyed composing...?
Has anyone mentioned the value of art as communication? I believe this to be especially true in music. There's actually a three-fold communication going on between the composer, the musician and the audience.
ReplyDeleteAlso because music is communication in it's purest sense. You're often not using words or other abstractions to get a point accross, but really just conveying an emotion directly.
DeleteOh Dang Steve! I didn't notice that you had commented! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you.
ReplyDeleteNo, no one has mentioned that... I like the idea of that, and especially see the open communication that can occur in paintings, or photography. I hesitate to say film, mostly because of the language barrier. I guess language barrier aside, language arts are extremely effective at communication. Especially when examining and critiquing social norms, and practices.
I have a hard time accepting music as a communication conduit because of the subjective nature that comes along with it, especially when considering absolute music. I might want to communicate rage as the composer and the listener might be inspired by the epic qualities of the sound, and misunderstand my rage. Therefore miscommunication has occurred.
So then I can't help but ask... what is the point? The listener not understanding what I was trying to communicate is not a bad thing, but what purpose has it served?
However, I do like the reality of communication occurring between the composer, the musician, and the audience through a performance. I will be thinking about what you have said, thank you for the feedback.