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Sunday, February 15, 2009
Music and Memory
Why is it that we can remember songs from our youth in perfect detail? We
not only remember the words and the melodies. We remember the performance itself in every detail. Were we to hear
a specific favorite song with a subtle change in the guitar solo, we would certainly notice it immediately. It is as
if the brain is capturing the piece of music as a whole with a digital recorder. Our mind doesn't seem to distinguish
between good and bad music. We remember everything that receives a sufficient number of hearings. Our minds store
both Mozart's 23rd Piano Concerto and a jingle for Nestle's Chocolate. Imagine the musical memory of a great
composer, such as Mozart. He was essentially able to recall music backwards. He heard new melodies and felt a
compulsion to get them out. Certainly he had influences. But the creative spark, the first movement, remains
a place of mystery.
7:51 am cst
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Musical Honesty
There is a moment just prior to musical improvisation when you have no real clue
where to begin. You honestly start with zero. Then you strike a note and listen. As a musician, you have
a sophisticated filter that immediately judges. The challenge is to quickly establish a context, and sustain that context.
When you have an interesting idea, it is only right to develop it. Never leave musical thoughts in the lurch.
All music is drama. If we accept this, we embrace elements of classical form that serve to unify the piece. This
is a lot to ask in real time, as notes pass by. And yet, without this filter, you would be simply emtying out emotions.
There would be no art. Just feelings. As compelling as our feelings may be, they cannot sustain interest. There
is something comforting about beginnings and endings. Just as we attempt to integrate events into the narrative of
our lives, the musician must establish meaning at every moment. The art of improvisation is dependent upon trust
in your future choices. As long as you remain honest, the choices flow naturally from within. Once you find yourself
performing, the trust is breached. True music is nothing less than a confession.
7:28 am cst
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