From: Jim Armstrong (jarmstro@qwest.net)
Date: Sat Aug 23 2003 - 17:07:48 EDT
I can tell you from personal experience that even writing music of a
more modest sort can have its humbling moments when something remarkable
emerges quite unbidden in the middle of otherwise fairly ordinary work.
I've even had that happen in the creation of multi-media slide
presentations where there is the sudden appearance of a mood transition
in the music track that is an uncanny match to the flow of images
on-screen. I do not take lightly those happenings. But I confess that I
still do not know whether they are the result of the persuasive action
of God, or an exceptional burst of greater-than-usual realization of
the potential always present in my being.
It is thrilling to hear the music you create come to life in the hands
of another.
It's hard to imagine that the creation of music could ever be other than
a gift.
It surely must be to the composer the tiniest bit like what God feels
with Creation.
JimA
Iain Strachan wrote:
>D.F. Siemens wrote (in part):
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>>What I've read of the interchange on genius seems to overlook central
>>tendency. Breeding outliers does not normally extend the range.
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>I think this is the very point I'm trying to make. These "outliers" have
>the effect of enriching our lives, be it with beautiful music or wonderful
>inventions (e.g. would be be having this conversation over the internet if
>it were not for the brilliance of the tragic genius Alan Turing?)
>
>But their own lives and their own genes maybe don't have as good a chance of
>being propagated as someone who is ordinary and "dull" (which as the Larkin
>poem I cited suggests may be a key to happiness).
>
>So, back to the straight religious question; is "genius" a gift from God?
>Is it a curse? I regard Mozart's music as a gift for which I'm grateful;
>the way it resonates with ones mind (it has been said that Mozart has
>soothing and healing properties); and the extraordinary ability it has to
>carry you along in its flow - almost as if you were creating the music
>inside your own head. But was this "gift" a gift for Mozart himself? Is
>there an element here of suffering to bring happiness (salvation) to others;
>eg Elgar's music uplifting others, but not himself. Shostakovich once said
>that even if they cut off his hands he would continue to write music, if
>necessary holding the pen in his mouth. It was his mission; his destiny in
>life to compose music; and in doing so, many found temporary release from
>the appalling business of living under Stalin. I just wonder if there isn't
>something a bit Christ-like in all this.
>
>Iain
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