The other day I was having a conversation with some friends. One had Mahler's 2nd Symphony playing in the background, and I quipped about how in the final movement there is a great brass chorale. One of my friends looked at me puzzled, and asked something along the lines of "how can you wait through an entire piece of music just for one little part?" As I walked to school the next day, I pondered that question and came up with a response: the same reason why a person sits through three periods of a Sioux hockey game just to see that one important goal scored. A person doesn't simply listen to classical music, it is something that must be experienced.
Classical music is a very complex thing. Unlike in sports, every thing that is on the page has its own purpose. During a football play, once the quarter back hands the ball off whether he goes left or right really makes no difference in the big scheme of things. However, in classical music every note has its own purpose. Whether a c-minor chord has a root of C or E-flat will change the tone and experience of the music entirely.
When I'm listening to let's say Mahler's 2nd symphony, known as "the resurrection", I experience a lot of different emotions. There are moments of intense chaos, of sadness, of joy, of mystery, and ultimately triumph. Why that brass chorale in the final movement is so powerful is because throughout the entire piece, the music plays tricks on you. It pretends to lead you to it, but at the last minute turns another way. Just at the moment you think the music will finally be resolved, it slips back into mystery leaving you unsure of what is to come next. It reaches out to touch your soul and just when you want to give it away, the music takes another sudden turn, leaving your soul deserted. When the music finally delivers that triumph you have been waiting for, the emotion truly is one that cannot be described with words. I'm sure some of you have no idea what I'm talking about...but if you ever have thirty minutes to spare in a day, sit down and experience the final movement of "the resurrection" symphony. You won't be disappointed.
2 comments:
I for one know exactly what you are talking about. I don't listen to classical music often. But I do enjoy it. You're exactly right, a lot of music needs to be experienced, not just listened too. Especially when there's a great brass section involved. As a trumpet player, I can be a bit biased towards brass instruments.
ah Jake, I am going to have to disagree with your football quarterback analogy. What an athlete chooses to do during a game is equally important as the root of your C-minor chord. I think that great sports and great music have a lot in common. Many people experience the emotions of sadness, of joy, of mystery, and hopefully triumph while watching their fave sports team. I don't think that you need to trivialize their feelings in order to support yours. Just because you feel the way you do towards music doesn't mean other people don't get those emotions about something else.
:)
looking forward to your blog, Jake.
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