I have discovered a wonderful program called Spotify. It is essentially an online Jukebox that enables one to listen to, but not download, a vast library of music. At the moment I am listening to Jocelyn Pook, not to everyone's taste i am sure but this woman has a beautiful voice and her music is hard to categorise. It seems to bridge continents as well as genres and I find her songs haunting and beautiful.
Music has so much power to change the way that we feel and the way that we think. I remember many moons ago, when i ran the drama group at school, that I got us involved in a project run by the Kent Opera company. It was part of their brief to provide an educational input and they would tour various schools running creative projects and this particular year the theme was silent movies. As a group our task was to produce both a movie and a filmscore, and at the end of the project, all the movies were shown on screen at the National Film Theatre and the score was played by the Kent Opera Orchestra. Can you imagine the buzz that the kids got from seeing their work on such a stage? Anyhow, what i want to write about was the pre-project session that involved staff only, along with the kent team, who incidentally incorporated a silent movie pianist! The point of the day was to highlight the way that music can make one think or feel, and this was superbly demonstrated by showing a piece of film several times but each time with a different musical background. The same scene completely changed its meaning according to the music that was being played.
Directors make very considered decisions when picking music for their movies. Long gone are the gung ho soundtracks that would accompany John Wayne into battle, and glorify the carnage that is the reality of war. Next time you see Platoon, or The Dear Hunter, imagine how those movies would seem so different with a 1940's accompaniment.
Music for me is essential. I'd rather do without wine than be without it. Having lost the hearing in one ear I now treasure what i have left and dread the prospect of losing that.
1 comment:
dear Musis to Live by...
wouldnt it be fun to choose our own music as the mood suits.. when we waken in the morning..i think for most of the day mine would thunder out 'ode to joy' (though one might get a tad weary of it) i dont think i would choose much 'dark' music... perhaps i could just get someone to compose a symphony for me... and as the day wore on the music would too.. though i confess i would like a little napping music too... breaking into something to cook by........ what fun this thought is..thank you dear Music.. for the vaguest suggestion..........
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