The Sacred and the Profane

by compound complex 16 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  compound complex

  Dear Mr. Cosmo Politan,

  I would gladly drop all concerns practical and necessary just to lie down and listen to Brahms Or Bach. Yet, I do have daily chores about the house that require my attention. I want the best of both worlds, so I listen to recordings of classical music while I bustle about my home-care duties. However, my professor at music school said that it was sacrilegious to do the profane, like scrubbing the toilet, when listening to Bach. I find that music - any music - is motivating and elevates my spirits while doing the perfunctory.

  Isn't he being a bit extreme?

  Carl Phillip Emmanuel

  Dear C.P.E:

  Not at all! He wouldn't be where he is today without high standards.

  I, on the other hand, allow myself some leniency. I play Handel's "Water Music" when bathing. Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite" accompanies my roasting a chicken. When I can't fix my mind too sharply on a matter of importance, on goes Debussy's "Reverie." Likewise, Claude Achille's "The Afternoon of a Faun" when I dress a deer. And when I'm feeling especially contrary, I clean house to take my mind off the music (which, like the water, is always running).

  You, however, should follow your teacher's advice not to mix the sacred with the profane, thereby retaining and nourishing your classical purity.

  I'm jaded and can get away with it.

  Cosmo
  
  
  
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  compound complex

  Danse sacrée et danse profane for Harp and Strings (1904)

  Claude Debussy's legacy to the musical world is immense. Not only did he leave a body of both piano solo and also orchestral music which includes many present-day favorites, such as La Mer, but he created a style of music which was seminal. The three other compositions in this program all trace some direct or indirect lineage to Debussy. In this sense, his contribution paralleled that of Monet in the world of art. Both were leaders in their own Impressionist styles.

  It was due primarily to Debussy's dedication and perseverance that he succeeded at all. His family was poor and unable to provide a comfortable background for his studies. His career at the Conservatory in Paris was more frequently marked by second prizes than firsts. But he became the acknowledged leader of his generation, a result purely of their respect for his abilities. From then on his influence and recognition steadily increased. Two works really solidified his standing: his opera Pelléas et Mélisande (1902) and La Mer (1905). Thus he was already in his forties before the public at large really became aware of him. The two danses date from that most successful and influential period.

  The piece came about as the result of a commission from the Pleyel company, which had developed a "chromatic" harp and desired a piece which could demonstrate its abilities. Although harps for solo performance and accompanying the voice are very ancient, the type of harp that could be used in orchestral music was not developed until the early 19th century. In order for an instrument to play in a modern orchestra, it must generally be capable of playing all (or at least most) of the notes in the appropriate key. The "pedal" harp, the type used for almost two centuries now, has a set of seven pedals each of which controls all of the strings of a particular note (for example the one on the left controls all the Cs, the next the Ds, and so on). Each pedal can take one of three positions: flat, natural and sharp. In this way, the harp can be tuned, almost instantaneously, to any diatonic mode. The chromatic harp solved the problem by having one string for each pitch (like a piano), thus alleviating the need for pedals. Despite, the excellence of the danses, the design was not a success and today, orchestral harps are always of the pedal type.

  The Danses comprise two short movements joined as one. The two dances are influenced by Spanish music, which Debussy loved even before his friendship with de Falla. The slow and ritualistic Danse sacrée (sacred) may have been inspired by a short piano piece by the Portuguese composer, Francisco de Lacerda, who was friendly with Debussy. The Danse profane (secular, rather than profane) is a lively and lilting waltz, mostly in the key of D, but with chromatic alterations and a great deal of modulation to show off the chromatic possibilities of the instrument.

  www.symphonypromusica.org
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  compound complex

  So strange ...

  While researching the above (Debussy) on the net, I had been listening to NPR's overnight classical program. As I was reading about Pleyel and the chromatic harp, the radio announcer actually mentioned the name Pleyel and this unique harp before introducing the "Dances Sacred and Profane."

  I had no idea beforehand about the programming nor had I intended to arise at that very time and read an article on Debussy....

  Incredible coincidence!

  P.S: A piece by C.P.E. Bach, perhaps the least known of the Bachs, was just on. C.P.E. is the music student who asked the opening question.

  CoCo
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  AK - Jeff

  I can add nothing intelligent to this thread, but find it interesting matter of thought.

  Jeff
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  compound complex

  Good morning, Jeff ...

  Have a great day!

  CoCo
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  AK - Jeff

  

  A nice interpretation here, to my untrained ears at least;

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKd0VII-l3A
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  compound complex

  Beautiful, Jeff!

  After having played "Clair de Lune" for 45 years on the piano, I continue striving to perfect the touch and tone. A piano sensitively attuned to impressionistic music is key.

  Many, many thanks!

  CoCo Loves Claude
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  hamsterbait

  MEA CULPA

  mea maxima maxima culpa!

  Do you think St Cecilia has manged to pray that God forgive me because I played with lego as a kid whilst listening to Mozart concertos and symphonies? I cannot listen to Mozart now - I have no lego.

  My teddy bears orchestra played the Beethoven symphonies with me conducting.

  OH GOD OH GOD the sin!!

  Now I like cleaning the toilet to Grace Jones, "Nightclubbing".

  SIDEBAR: (how GAY is this thread?)

  And: Yes, Clair was a lune.

  HB
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  DoomVoyager

  I have some riffs in my head. When I have enough, and figure out how they go together, I will compose a death metal song and title it "The Sacred and the Profane" (unless something else occurs to me). Seems like a badass song name.
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  AK - Jeff

  After having played "Clair de Lune" for 45 years on the piano, I continue striving to perfect the touch and tone.

  I wish I could make a statement like that. I love music, but have no talent in that regard. My whole family plays[ed] guitar, but mine sits in it's case due to my inablity to make it sing well. Perhaps in my case it is due to ambidextriousness [is that a word lol?] and the fact that most people play guitar right handed [as is mine]. My abidextrious nature got curtailed at 6 when I broke my right arm and became [mostly] left handed. That may have changed my brain orientation at a crucial time in my life, who knows.

  Maybe someday I will have the pleasure of hearing you play the piano.

  Jeff