Long ago, I heard the wife of an art history professor make what I thought was a foolish remark: “Art is intellectual whereas music is emotional.”
Any musican can tell you that music theory is the backbone of music and that one needs brains as well as a good ear to dissect a symphony. However, I now think there might be some merit to her comment. Although aesthetically pleasing, paintings, sculptures, and other tangible works of art have never moved me to tears. Music, on the other hand, has the power to make me weep or jump up and dance.
For years, I played the violin, performing classical works as well as East European folk music. It wasn’t only the beautiful tone and the soft smell of wood that were alluring. There was something erotic, sensual and intimate about the music vibrating through my body as I played my violin, which became an extension of who I was and what I was feeling. Being a member of chamber groups, symphony orchestras, and a folk music band in the various cities I lived in magnified my joy as we made music together. It always seemed unbelievable that different instruments playing different notes could produce a unified piece of music that was wonderful to listen to.
So if you love to listen to music, imagine how sublime your joy would be if you were the musician.
P.S. That was me back in New York, when I was 27. Also, a shortened version of my letter regarding Herman Frazier appeared in today’s Advertiser. — gigi
March 28, 2007 at 8:41 am |
Oh, screw the whole philosophical music gibberish! This pic proves why hubby still stumbles head over heals for you everyday!
You’re a babe, gigi!
March 28, 2007 at 9:16 am |
I figgered Gigi would have looked this good in her spring chicken days. Her and hubby must have made some nice babies!
March 28, 2007 at 11:09 am |
A beautiful woman who can play the violin.
March 28, 2007 at 12:22 pm |
hahaha. Those were the days, eh? — gigi
March 28, 2007 at 8:27 pm |
Oh, the violin!
OK, now I’m over being jealous of you and on to being a huge fan. (Published author, hu-man-gus tv owner, esteemed Tsaiko lady)
I loved playing the violin, but my family did not. The dogs ran away whenver I played. The cow stopped milking. The chickens behaved weird. The cats were in extra tense mode. The rabbit messed up all over the house instead of in his pen.
Really. I wish I was kidding. After 2 years, my parents stopped paying for me to take lessons.
Gigi you are the queen, you rock!
March 28, 2007 at 8:35 pm |
Yeah, I remember a neighbor tooting his car horn whenever I practiced, trying to drown my noise. hahaha — gigi
March 28, 2007 at 8:46 pm |
oops, just as I thought…I forgot to write down accomplished musician!
April 1, 2007 at 10:55 pm |
Aloha Gigi, My sister , four years younger than me, used to play the violin at Kalakaua Intermediate and Farrington H.S. orchestra back in the late ’50’s. She was the only one who was musically inclined in our family. I used to just hate it when she practiced her violin with those screeching noises when she first started…LOL.. I told her why don’t you just quit. But she’s the perserverant type so she continued on. In fact, she was discouraged by her English & Social Studies teacher from majoring in architecture when she graduated from Farrington as a Wallace Rider Farrington scholarship winner but she persisted and attended U. of Oregon to get her degree. She is married to a haole man, has two Eurasian looking kids ( my niece is very pretty), just like your two lovely daughters. Unfortunately, she no longer plays the violin.