The Heart of a Musician

Subject: The Heart of a Musician
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 01:17 PM

Hm, I wanted to change the subject for a little bit... so much political debate going on... oh I know we have to DEAL with it, think our ways through it, talk it over till we understand what we ourselves think about it all... but we are musicians, no?

So friends, what goes on in the heart of a musician? Say for instance when you try to play music this week, after the Events of 9/11... Any comfort there, any help expressing what doesn't have words?

Me, it came out in a wordlessly sung, almost hummed tune, just now, a sighing in melody. Guess it's all the spirituals I listened to this morning, a sighing while one toils away... like a field hand.

So tell me, friends, what do you know about the heart of a musician?

~Susan

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: The Shambles
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 01:42 PM

This one's heart is broken.

I am finding it difficult to fill it again with music but that is what we must try to do.

Any suggestions as to how we do it, will be welcome.

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Cappuccino
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:05 PM

You know, I've always wanted to hear that legendary show played by Hendrix, the night Martin Luther King got shot. The story goes that he played the most emotional solo evening of his life, and it all came from the heart... but nobody recorded it. - Ian B

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: MMario
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:10 PM

Lots of music in mine - most of it refusing to come out - but what has has helped heal.

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Justa Picker
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:13 PM

Normally I practise guitar 3 to 4 hours a day, every single day. Might do an hour at lunchtime, another hour after work, and then a couple of hours late at night.

When the events of last Tuesday happened, I couldn't pick up a guitar for 5 days. For someone like me, that's a very long time to go without playing. But the reason is that I had no song in my heart nor any music within me that I felt capable of playing...and was in a temporary head space of "what's the use of anything?".

Finally over the weekend, I forced myself to pick up a guitar and rather than start to play any songs I know, I just let my mind and fingers wander, and as a result stumbled on some new techniques and chords I'd never played before, so they've now been added to the "tools arsenal." I also rediscovered how incredibly theraputic, calming and relaxing it is to just play - doesn't matter what you play. I feel waves of anxiety deep within get swept away, and sense of calm and well being seems to magically happen. Music is a great friend and companion. Sometimes you have to get away from it for a while, to truly appreciate it's healing qualities.

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:27 PM

Gandhi was once asked about what difference an individual could make in the face of the world's myriad problems and needs. The essence of his response was this:

"Anything you can do is apt to appear small...And it is very important that you do it."

For myself, whatever I can do, arising from the deepest and most compassionate place in my heart, is what I must do.

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:30 PM

I think JP and I discovered the same thing-- that to be willing to start, is to unleash what is in there needing to come out. Maybe not anything you have ever played or sung before... just the soul, weeping in music, and even celebrating.

Friends, we must celebrate... we must! There is so much to celebrate that we cannot allow these awful events to take our sight away from! Those positives... are what let us see the bad things STRAIGHT.

The heart of a musician... ask yours what's going on in there, and let it answer you in music.

~S~

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Bardford
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:31 PM

Inside this musician beats the heart of a human. Like Shambles', this heart of mine is broken. Not shattered, not busted up beyond repair, though, for within this human heart beats the heart of a musician. And music, for this human, is like duct tape. Fixes damn near anything.

The instruments have lain untouched, though. My hands seem to want to be doing other things right now. My ears have been gravitating to classical music on the radio, and seem to be especially responsive to the violin and the cello. I am reminded of the incredible, beautiful creative energy that crisis can foment. Someone on another thread mentioned the cellist who played daily in Sarajevo during the strife there. What a loving, human, action. We need more cellists, less land-mine designers. I recently read a Confucius quote that goes something like this, and I paraphrase:

"When man understands and appreciates music and courtesy, there will be no need for war."

Short answer, WYSIWYG, after all that rambling, is I'm damn glad I've got music in my life. Cheaper than medication, and lasts longer. Peace, Bardford

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Jenny the T
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:52 PM

Our usual weekly session is Tuesdays. On the 11th, we just naturally called it off; it didn't feel appropriate--it's too happy, too celebratory an event.

My normal life has me fiddling hours a day--a day without the fiddle would normally be like a day with nothing to read--worse than a day without food, more akin to a day without air. And I never, ever (well, hardly ever) miss the session.

Still, it was days before I could bear to make any music again. Maybe, when your heart is sick, the music leaves it. I _wanted_ to feel like making music. But I didn't, couldn't.

Along about Sunday it came back to me. I played for hours, but at a slower pace than usual, with lots of emotion. Tears flowed. Felt better afterwards--still heartsick, but with healing begun. The music is the best therapy there is, for me ...

JtT

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 03:08 PM

The weekend before the tragedy I was at a conference with some wonderful musicians- outside of scheduled hours, we sang every chance we could, and on into the night. After the tragedy, my heart longed for the kind of union we had had during the weekend; all I wanted to do was sing in harmony with like-minded friends. I've been able to do so on a few occasions- We Shall Overcome at the Brattleboro candlelight vigil was one such moment- and will get to sing all day tomorrow and again tomorrow night with good people. It's better than most pleasures and therapies in life.
And all day, every school day, I've been singing peace songs with the children. More good therapy.

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Sam Pirt
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 03:21 PM

Looking at the news I really don't know how to feel, Mt stomach churns each time I see those pictures of the towers falling. I feel sick with even the thought of those pictures. surly I am not watching a war unfold in front of my eyes with an enemy that still has not really been identified. If they attack what about the more innocent people in the countrys that will die, just how far is this thing going to go?

That is what I am thinking about, but heres what I am doing.....

I am playing music even more than ever, taking it into special schools, festivals, folk clubs, concerts etc.. and when I am playing my music I am giving enjoyment to people as I did before the tradgedy. You see if you let this inncedent affect you the terrorists have won, you carry on (not as normal but with the same intentions) you become the winner. I am not in any way saying that people who have lost friends should not greve, far from it, what I am saying is don't let whoever did the things in America scare you from society or living a normal life and giving as you gave before. Why?

There are far more nice people in this world than there are nasty evil people.

Cheers, Sam

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Cappuccino
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 05:22 PM

Sam has a very good point. If things get worse, the world is not going to want musicians being silent. It is going to need you playing. - Ian B

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: cyder_drinker
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 07:53 PM

Been playing slow airs a lot more in the sessions. And people seem to be actually listening to them, too.

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Willie-O
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 09:30 PM

Well my musical tastes have always tended towards the morbid side of the folksong catalogue--a typical set of covers I might do would include "Cold Missouri Waters" (death by fire), "Kelly's Mountain" (shot by lover's father), "Vincent Black Lightning" (shot by police), lately "Caney Fork River" (drowning), "Workers' Song" (working class as cannon fodder), and "Peter's Dream" (discouraged fisherman sinks his boat with a shotgun). As you see, I am a fun guy.

Part of the reason I do those songs though is that they express stuff that is not really present in my peaceable existence, and visible personality. (That's sort of how I became the notorious Willie-O).

I haven't played any of those songs since last Tuesday. Today I started learning "Beeswing", R Thompson's aching chronicle of loss and longing, but nobody dies. I'll be at that for awhile.

Also, Marion was over for her guitar lesson and we worked on "Mary Ellen Carter". That's always worth a go.

Upstairs, Pied Pumkin's CD is playing "Fear of Flying". Funny how many songs you suddenly think differently of.

Bill

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Jim Krause
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:26 PM

This is going to sound worse than I mean it to--real cold and hard hearted. I'm sorry. I don't really have a better way of dealing with tragedy.

I've been busy working on the shows I have to do over the next month or six weeks. I don't think I can afford the luxury of taking a break to grieve; I'll have to do that while I'm singing, fiddling, playing guitar, writing, or learning to play the fife.

The situation rather reminds me of the time my Mom asked me to lead the congregational singing at Dad's memorial service. I thought "How in the world am I going to get through this without breaking down?"

So I steeled myself saying "It's just another gig. It's just another gig. Just like always, it's just another gig." And it worked.

Oh I guess I am slightly affected personally. I have an old schoolmate from college who lives on the Jersey shore. I wonder how she & her family have been affected by all this. I suspect I'll never know for certain, however, as we parted company under a cloud.

But for me, I think the best thing I can do is keep on playing and singing, and let the music express how I feel about the world.
Jim

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:29 PM

I played "Cold Missouri Water" a few days ago at a fund raiser at the local Hook And ladder club... they LOVED IT! No way am I gonna censor the music I play...

What do I know about the heart of a musician?

They taste good on toast!

:-)

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Jim Krause
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:43 PM

Hey Clinton, What's this song "Cold Missouri Water?" I don't think I have heard it. Is is new (20^th Century)? Is it a traditional song? I tried a DigiTrad search and didn't find it. It might be something I'd be interested in learning.
Jim

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:50 PM

It's a James Keelaghan song about the fire in Mann Gulch August, 1949... look for the book "Young Men And Fire" by an author who's name escapes me....

I think I've posted the lyrics a time or 2 in various Keelaghan related threads...

If ya can't find it, PM me and I'll repost 'em...

;-)

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 02:39 PM

I agree with, Just a Picker, I find the hours go by when playing the guitar. I play about the same hours as Just a Picker, 3 to 4 hours a day. I find it great relaxation, to get away from the everyday issues that we all have during the run of a day. And I also find that I learn new things on the guitar that I never knew before.

The heart of a musician, let me see. Dedication to the people that they are singing & writing about. There are some great musicians out there, that want to write a song in 3 to 4 minutes long, to express the everyday person that is doing there best. For example there is a songwriter that wrote here on this Mudcat site, about the tragedy that happened last week. I thought it was nice that someone took the time to write about is happening in America. I know to some people it is not the place or time right now to write it. But I think it was nice that the person that wrote the song to show respect to the innocent people that lost there lives.

Anyway, I think that around the bars and pubs in North America, there are great songwriters, present stars in the music industry and up and coming stars. And I feel like any other musician I like to share with other people there songs. Because like any other musician, the songwriter would appreciate the help.

To conclude my posting a famous musician once said, "You have to be seen to be heard." The heart of a musician is the passion to perform and enjoy what he or she is doing. You can make a whole lot of money in the music industry, but it is the passion to play is the most rewarding, and to please you and your audience.

Thanks for your time,

Steven G.

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 03:14 PM

Thanks, all. Keep em coming. Thanks especially for your post, Steven G.

~Susan

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: MichaelM
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 03:32 PM

Young Men and Fire is by Norman Maclean. He is also the author of A River Runs Through It. Don't read Young Men and Fire if you are still in pain about Sept.11. The parallel with the firefighters running into the WTC is horribly clear.

Michael

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 04:02 PM

the heart of a muscian,is from where we express our inner and sometimes,outward look at life,whether it be,past,present,or future. we are only reflections of the people and/or life as we perceive it. vaya con DIOS,,,,

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Cappuccino
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 05:48 PM

Steven, I do like that 'you have to be seen to be heard'. I've just printed that out and pasted it up beside the computer.

- IanB

Subject: RE: The Heart of a Musician
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 06:41 PM

Norman Maclean... that's it... thanks mate!