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THE MAGIC OF MIND AND HAND, THE SYMPHONY OF HEART AND SOUL
There is something amazing in the intuitive flow of the artist’s work
between hand and mind; the dynamic dance between complimentary
partners. We often think of creative work as a single directional flow
of commands from the thoughts of our mind to our body. My experience
and observations lean towards a syncopated dance of mind and body, as
the wonderful interaction of the conductor and orchestra.
We experienced the “extra ordinary in the ordinary” of the Hartford
Symphony Orchestra’s closing 65th Anniversary “Beethoven in the
Belding” Masterworks Series this past June led by music director Edward
Cumming. The program opened with the soft, whimsical notes of
Beethoven’s Pastoral Sixth Symphony and closed with the classic phrase
of the Fifth which he introduced over 200 years ago.
I was concerned about our perspective of the evening when directed to
front row seats seemingly too close to maintain the larger perspective
of the performance but we were surprised by the intimate details in
the artistry of the music.
The first impressions were given by the energy and animation of
Cumming and the musicians: it was a challenge to follow the movements
of the director’s entire body and the extension of his hand in the
baton flying over the field of movement and sound. At one moment I was
entranced by the baton dancing in air; the next moment the baton had
escaped his hold evaporating into the air of music. Looking past the
pedestal to the back row, I now followed the animated expressions of
the drummer as he timed his vivid punctuation in the midst of
resonating strings and reads.
So many details that we miss from afar…. now focused on the lead
violinist, I see stray strands breaking from the bow, a moment now
taken to pull away the failed elements. Over to the four musicians on
base, the beautiful patina of fine wood instruments cradled in arms as
their bows quiver across the strings, and fingers dance above them: one
musician reaches out to turn the page and his bow falls into the moving
arm of his partner, a slight pause a nimble catch then back in synchrony.
The drummer focuses on his music and the movements of Cumming’s arms
and eyes; his face is slightly contorted in grimaced concentration as
he times the thundering response of the kettle drum.
The movement of individuals all in their own space of concentration,
all in command of their own instruments, yet all in responsive harmony
to the 200 year old work that comes alive only a few meters away from
where we sit; music so compelling, hundreds sit entranced on the edge
of their seats.
I now start to consider that mind to body dance that takes place with
the musician’s practiced fingers moving over a familiar instrument, a
wood frame worn and aged with deep patina, a horn dented and oxidized horn, worn with
decades of work. Neurons and synapses within each mind responding
to a familiar work; eyes dancing over the notes on the page, hands and
lips, and arms sending signals, faster than my computer could possibly
respond, back and forth to disciplined minds.
Now step back to the even more amazing balance that brings the harmony
of each musician to the larger work of the entire orchestra, and the
musical energy that fills Belden hall. My mind’s eye now sees these
individuals as a larger creative presence, the creation that flowed
from the pen and mind of Beethoven.
The universal power of creative work has now spanned the centuries, it
has connected to each individual in the orchestra from the light
elegant figure of a young lady in black gown, black high heels, her
violin tucked delicately under her chin, to the much bigger frame of
the gray bearded gentleman in black tux, on the opposite side of the
stage creating the deep resonating notes on the thick strings of his
base. The summation now resonates in the spirit of those present.
This same power of creative work is found in so many of both human and
natural events, in so many parallel ways. Listen and watch this flow in
everyday work; in yourself and those you work with and also in nature. It is not perfect;
strings will break, batons lost, notes missed, but the power of that
orchestra, regardless of its creation will still resonate in harmony if
those that participate have the same vision, resonating their director and
believe and respect in each other. There may be the hands and
minds of different experiences, different talents, different
perspectives, that can all play in harmony, all are well practiced in
their disciplines.
Look into the ordinary and find the power of creative work in every day
events. Look at life from a new perspective to appreciate and experience
the extra ordinary.
The morning’s muse
Gary
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Changing the paradigm of our economic engine:
There are many discussions on how we redefine our place in the changing global economy and maintain a vibrant, productive society throughout the world within the limits of world resources. It is an interesting challenge. The basic value that will redefine us should be the constant development of responsive and flexible minds, and creative skills that produce valuable new ideas. There are too many who are obsessed with fears of work being taken over by emerging countries in other parts of the world. Holding on to older skills and techniques does not allow a progressive organization to maintain a leadership position. The question should be "How we maintain a high level of skill, and leverage, develop, promote and sell more productive intellectual property to others?"
The reference below captures a dialogue from an NPR discussion I caught in the morning waking hours. There is an interesting paradox between the skills and knowledge that we develop, and the need to break away from conformance.
Bright Ideas Innovative Minds Don't Think Alike, By JANET RAE-DUPREE, Published: December 30, 2007
There was a great program on PBS Nova months ago on the making of the ancient Samurai sword. The tradition of making this fine instrument goes back almost a thousand years, yet many may appreciate the amazing use of fundamental principles that refined metallurgical properties of the sword despite the fact that the science was not understood. These skills were impregnated into the artisan's work in its making. The same process has been passed on from generation to generation. Holding to that level of conformity (which was maintained by making the process almost a spiritual experience) held the high standards to which the blade had been developed without much change for hundreds of years. I'd love to ride the time-warp back to when the early Samurai came back to the blacksmith complaining about the short comings of the first swords, and how the process evolved to the perfected design. The same thing happens in industry on another scale, but with the same elements.
The tension between conformity to standards and the need to change in the creative process reminds me of the Yin and Yang in the circle symbol of eastern philosophy. We need both to be maintain our competitive edge in some productive way but I believe that our culture must shift more to the nonconformity side in order to survive.
Perhaps we need to redefine our economic structure and consumerism, in figuring out how we can live simply with optimal use of resources, and still live well. I like to compare this to the evolution of the IPod as a very simple, tiny device that provides information and entertainment within a very small package of material, packed with a better design and the latest technologies. Wouldn't it be great if all the stuff we are burdened with could be put in a small package? Too bad we can't simplify our need for other things and still have access to a host of interesting materials, and share the same with everyone else. I believe this metaphor could extend from music to many other human needs.
There is the challenge. When we view the circular discussions, and limited thinking and lack of vision in much of our leadership, we do not make progress from our current situation. We still depend on consuming a great deal of resources with the same processes and expect the mass market to continue buying more and more of what so many cannot afford, nor can we continue consumption of resources that cannot be sustained. We need to break this cycle and redefine how we maintain a vibrant, progressive and productive economy that does not depend on wasteful, inefficient consumption. There are many possibilities starting with a new vision and development of a new infrastructures that could replace the very outdated and inefficient systems for transportation and power, housing, or medical needs that we are now stagnated in. Pouring billions of dollars into an obsolete, ineffective and outmoded standards in our industries and their mode of management for example, may not move a stagnated global economy forward. Creative thinkers understand the need to break the mold of current thinking and nurture innovative cultures and creative work at the highest levels more than ever.
The morning muse,
Gary
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