BUT DOES IT INCITE YOUR SOUL?
Music has meaning. For example, a melody can be constructed with a song in mind or maybe a poem or perhaps just as a flowing melody that provokes movement. Harmony also has meaning and purpose. It can convey movement as well as harmonic tension, and can be orchestrated to portray the full range of sounds or as I like to refer to that as the primary, secondary and tertiary colours of music.
However, without the presence of emotion, melody and harmony (no matter how cleverly orchestrated) are just notes on manuscript that portray meanings.
Ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle Plato, is credited with saying, ‘Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything’. Chinese philosopher, Confucius, informed us that ‘Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without’, and according to the German novelist, Berthold Auerbach, ‘Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life’.
As musicians, we should strive to touch the soul of those who listen to us by bringing life to the meaning behind the music, and that requires a deeper interpretative understanding of the music. In a band situation, bringing the music to life is achieved by the conductor and band through a comprehensive rehearsal technique; however, if the conductor and band want to touch the souls of those who listen to them, then the meaning of the music (the story) needs to be communicated through the art of performance. This is pure story telling in all its forms.
One thing that I was immensely proud of during my time as the leader of the Royal Australian Navy Band was our ability to bring out the emotion in our performances, and to touch the souls of those who listened to us.
This was evident in our 2007 live performance of The Third Symphony Opus 89 by James Barnes. You can listen by following the links:
1. Lento https://youtu.be/TJWRQytjCkw
2. Scherzo https://youtu.be/lfAJj2EXU-w
3. Mesto (For Natalie) https://youtu.be/oe0715SdRg4
4. Finale https://youtu.be/j7XVndMeHQ8
The first movement is a work of much frustration, bitterness, despair, and despondency (all of the composer’s personal feelings after losing his daughter). The scherzo (second movement) has a sarcasm and bitter sweetness about it, because it has to do with the pomposity and conceit of certain people in the world. The third movement is a fantasia about what the world would have been like if his daughter had lived. It is a farewell to her. The finale (fourth movement) represents a rebirth of spirit, a reconciliation for us all. Three days after the composer completed this symphony his son Billy Barnes was born. If the third movement is for Natalie, then the finale is really for Billy, and the joy in being blessed with him after the tragic death of his sister.
If you would like more information about inciting the soul of your audience, then please send me a message and I will welcome the opportunity to tell my story.
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