Perspective

Have you ever been unable to see the forest for the trees? Probably not. You're smarter than I am.

I've been looking at the finer details of Elements as I continue to prepare for our October 18th concert. The last post about math and music is a case in point. It is fascinating to see how a good composer can link so many elements of a work (pardon the pun) together to form a complete piece.

I guess the subconscious mind has been working away during my sleep time. I popped on a recording of Elements on the way in to work this morning and started hearing things that I've never heard before. The third movement really does sound like water! That may sound strange and obvious given that the title of the movement is Water, but I was hearing the whale sounds and slow movement of the current deep below the ocean's surface as I listened. I also have thought that one cabasa stroke at the beginning of the third movement seemed out of place until this morning. There are no other passages for cabasa for miles around, there is almost nothing else happening and BAM! cabasa. Cabasa is typically a hollow metal cylinder with chains around it that fits in ones hand. This morning it was obvious that this was the striking of the match that ignited the fire movement.

At first, I was disappointed in myself for missing these, what are now, obvious things in the piece. The more I thought about it however, the more I realized that this is true of any great piece. You can come at it from many different angles and see or hear many different things. What first catches your attention may distract you from other aspect of the piece and that is OK. That is what makes one persons experience different from the next and allows the piece to become a constant voyage of discovery.

Thanks, Adam!