I ran across a copy of Aaron Copland's "What to Listen For in Music" and was amazed to find so many of the same components in music as in art. In the book, Copland discusses "how the layman can cultivate a richer understanding and appreciation of this inspiring art- by the very act of intelligently listening to the music itself." He speaks of musical texture, mixed tone colors, the creative process and timbre in music being equal to color in painting.
I started to think of the concept of art appreciation - much like music appreciation- learning about the components of each that we may not be aware of-not knowing how to see or listen for. There have been many times when I may look at a piece of art and think- I must be missing something when it doesn't call to my heart. Maybe it's just not in sync with what I'm attracted to, but it's possible there is a beauty to it that I don't see because I don't know how or what to look for in it.
Here's a recent rainbow I saw looking out my window. It was one of the most striking rainbows I've seen and immediately made me think of Copland's book.
Here's a butterfly I was so excited to see outside my door - miraculously, right after I completed my butterfly for
The Butterfly Effect Project.
Today, I went to the Conservatory in Central Park to see autumn flowers. They were all so gorgeous and seemed to have a special beat all their own.
There were spectacular flowers exploding in shapes I've never seen before.
And garden beds filled with the most beautiful assortment of flowers
in all different colors and textures
and patterns mixed with such varied shaped leaves to form bold mosaics where ever I looked.
And here are the flowers which reminded me of scores of musical notes-
in a classical symphony making their own special music.
And although I've posted many pictures of one of my favorite sculptures in the park-
today the women seemed to be dancing wildly to music- almost as if they had come to life!
When life seems quiet, lifeless and without color or sound, sometimes we need to step back- listen and look very carefully.
Perhaps then we can see the colors in music and the beautiful musical sounds in colors.
Posts
