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03/13/2008
Storytelling and Bach
Most of us spend our lives telling stories. Whether these stories are worth hearing (or even telling) is a completely different and highly contentious matter. Sometimes the stories we tell are true, often elaborated and exaggerated, rarely completely fictitious but always personal on some level or other. I can never work out if we only ever tell stories that have meaning for us or that the act of telling a story makes it a part of us regardless of any previous emotional involvement. We use stories to teach, to ease social situations, to explain, to pass the time, to amuse, to frighten, to threaten and to comfort. They permeate every aspect of our lives.
But just because we live a life almost dependent on storytelling does not mean we aren't highly selective about the stories we tell. One of the first lessons a child learns at school (if not before) is the necessity to judge an audience and gauge a level of propriety before telling their story. It may take them the rest of their life to acquire this required skill if they manage it all (and most appear not to), but I would argue that the necessity is something that becomes apparent very early in life.
I suppose that there are countless reasons for keeping a story to yourself. Many reasons which all, at some level or another, boil down to fear. Fear of hurting loved ones, fear of ridicule, fear of repercussions, fear of not being able to tell the story, fear that the story wont be appreciated. So many things can go wrong when we open our mouths. So many things *could* come out. So much damage *could* be done. Speaking is a risk. And yet we continue to tell our stories - judging the reward worth the danger.
How much is it our need to tell stories that makes us human?
I am listening to the Matthaus-Passion at the moment. I can't decide which I prefer out of this work and the B minor mass. They are both stunning. I love listening to modern music (folk, rock, metal, jazz) that stirs up emotion: determination, anger, pride, sardonic amusement. I love listening to gargantuan romantic symphonies that pick up your soul and carry you somewhere completely other. I love listening to Floyd, Bowie (on occasion), Runrig, Show of Hands, Brahms, Rossini, Rachmaninov, Cage, Messian, Tavener, Stravinski.... I love the feeling of being completely caught up in a performance or composition - the way the audience hold their breathe through the piece whethr it is 5 minutes or 45. {Although I wish they would hold it 5 seconds longer at the end of a movement and wait for the last note to die.}
There is something slightly different about the Baroque. It still takes you somewhere. But fo me it always seems less pushy or forceful in doing so. There is a cleaness in the part writing that is lost as soon as Beethoven and Wagner arrive. A purity in the harmony that vanishes with the turn of the 19th Century. And yet, there is none of the basic simplicity of the Classical era... none of the twee yet pretty classics that can be so easily summed up with the word "Mozart". There is something so delightful in the mathematical precision of the counterpoint - so many individual layers that tessellate so well. Dissonance that is prepared and resolved without fuss or glamour...
This music rarely stirs up violent emotion. it does not generally move me to tears or fill me with energy. But I love to listen to it. It calms me I suppose; order and beauty complimenting each other so well. Emotional, yes, but it almost more personal in its understatement (compared to Romantic expression). Whatever has happened that day to anger or hurt me, I can (if I think of it) put on the Trio Sonatas, Pergolesi Stabat Mater, Mattheus-Passion, Allegri, a Byrd mass... and my heartbeat with regulate itself, my breathing fall in sync with the pulse of the music. And I sit and listen. Immerse myself. And after a few minutes - 3, 5, 30, 90? - I get up and continue with the day, my thoughts clearer and my emotions less clouded.
xXx
09:19 Posted in Music , Thoughts | Permalink | Email this
Comments
you need to pick your story and your audiance,
but some stories need to be told to negative audiances,
they are there to change the audiance and the listener,
they're the hardest stories to hear
and the ones that most need to be told,
of course stories about stories always go down well,
and are guarenteed to confuse :D:D:D
X
happy?
=P
Posted by: stuart Dingle | 03/13/2008
Stories to change people? Maybe we need to change ourselves? You're not political are you Stuart? :-)
I tell stories to amuse. Occasionally to inform - in the sense of wrapping up information for presentation.
But, what is the best way to use stories to persuade?
Often listeners are told how terrible a situation is hoping they will be inspired to action? So often there may be no effective action available and they are left depressed and less inclined to listen again.
Another way is to tell a story that inspires them. Where there is action they can take that will make a difference. It's hard to find such situations. I've found a few but most of my stories are for amusement :-)
Posted by: Steve | 03/13/2008
Whether stories should be told to change people is a completely different matter... They *are* frequently used to change people whether for better or worse.
I'd like to say I primarily tell stories to amuse, but it wouldn't be true, most of the fictional stories I tell are told to be funny. But most of the stories (overall) that I tell to pass on information - experience or knowledge... or to explain a point by extended analogy.
The best way to use a story to persuade people is to identify with their lives and then offer them something that is just one notch better. Everyone knows a situation can always get worse (so your suggestion Steve does not work)... but hope is still best described as opium - desirable and addictive. Too much of an improvement and people disbelieve... but most people respond to a little hope.
The best way to persuade people ever is a combination of humour and hope... (see previous post on uses of humour)
xXx
Posted by: Ruth | 03/14/2008
actually your both right about how to persuade,
I've found a very good tactic, is to first of all show them what the situation is, then point out where it's heading
(usually one or both of these will be "We're doomed Mr Mannering" or the equivalent)
and THEN offer them hope and a way out,
including a way they can help,
generally gets something out of people,
though some just need a swift kick,
me? political? surely not.......
:P
X
Posted by: stuart dingle | 03/14/2008