This morning we sang a new piece, commissioned for our church from Rebecca Oswald. It is a somewhat sappy piece, though it grew on me during rehearsal. Lucky for me, since we are singing it again tomorrow night. I have sung other works by this composer, and not found them sappy. Did she visit our church and decide that we were sappy? Did the person who commissioned it say, “But hey — make it a little sappy, will you?” Was she given an outline for the lyrics that suggested that a hokey tune was required? Well, we made people cry, so it was clearly a success.
What does it do to performing artists, the fact that one of the main signs of success is making people cry? Could it really be good for our characters?
This afternoon, we have sectionals for Messiah, a non-sappy piece of music if ever there was one. And my solo for the season is “This is the Record of John,” by Orlando Gibbons. So I guess I can sing a little schmalz wihout excessive complaining.
bravo…
i think the satisfaction an artist gets from making another person cry (or exhibit some other signs of emotional outpouring) is due to knowing that one’s art is able to invoke such emotion in others. it certainly isn’t something sadistic, if that’s what you were getting at haha. anyway, the Cheshire Cat allusion was unintentional, though not unwelcome. Peace.
If you dont mind my asking…are you a biologist? You sound pretty educated to me. Just curious.
I am a college student and my major is bio.
So yes, hehe i find insects incredibly fascinating too. i like how they don’t die. ever. no matter what you do. they always come back. always. Wait…oh that’s right, i *dont* like that. 😉
Peace,
Erehnys
i think intentions have a lot to do with it. if you play really good music because you know you can make people cry and you want to and you, for some reason, get pleasure out of it…then that wouldn’t exactly be very scrupulous. but if its a natural outcome that the beauty of your music makes people cry, well then its none of your fault. peace.