bradm Posted June 17, 2002 Report Share Posted June 17, 2002 One of my favourite Zappa quotes* is quote:Originally written by Frank Zappa Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.On first read, this would seem dismissive, and that's how I think Zappa intended it. To Zappa, it was the music that mattered, and interpretations of music (e.g., written ones) missed the mark. Since it would seem nonsensical to dance about architecture, it's meaningless to write about music. But then I tried to turn it on its head. First, is it possible to dance about architecture? And if it is, what would it be like? And if it's possible, what does this imply when it comes to writing about music? Consider a dance interpretation of, say, the New York skyline (and the skyline on 9/11, in particular), or Paris, or Toronto. Or a dance of a specific building (like the WTC, or the Guggenheim museum, or the Louvre). While you may not get an exact picture of the building(s) in question, they could certainly be used as a basis for choreography. As to writing about music, while straight descriptive writing (e.g., "explaining" the music) may (though not necessarily) miss the mark, is it possible to create written works based on music, that at least convey some of it (even if it's just the author's interpretation of the music)? Some writing even works as literary music (e.g., Keruac, or T.S. Eliot). The question (aside from all the ?s embedded in what's above) here is really an appeal for your opinion about writing as it relates to music, dancing as it relates to architecture (actually, using one art form as basis for another), etc. References to spefic works (writing, music, dancing, architecture, etc.) would be handy as well. Aloha, Brad * Which one Sanctuarian has in his/her sig; I forget who, for which I apologize. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h Posted June 17, 2002 Report Share Posted June 17, 2002 well i guess i'll bite just a little... Dancing about architecture - Art is interpretive - you can dance a beautiful delicate ballet and say it was inspired by a city in rubble after a violent battle. Whos to say it wasn't? Also, some people would be so inspired by beautiful architecture it can make your heart dance too can it not? ************************ now lets see you answer my sci fi question braniac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcane Posted June 17, 2002 Report Share Posted June 17, 2002 Shades of Isadora Duncan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backbacon Posted June 17, 2002 Report Share Posted June 17, 2002 I'm sure I could come up with a special dance with the inspiration I take from a hill of dirt; so yeah, if given the opportunity, an entire ballet could be wirtten about a certain building's architecture. I've already got one 100% inspired by the Saloon! btw, I like the idea of dating Q'sotD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottieking Posted June 18, 2002 Report Share Posted June 18, 2002 It's me. I love Zappa quotes. I only include that as my sig cause it kinda flies in the face of what we do here. When it all boils down to it, this too is how I feel about trying to explain "my music" to my friends who don't groove or who have closed their eyes at live show and got washed away or watched an extremely talented musician for hours and not be able to comprend how they did what they did. Think I'll keep it for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcane Posted June 18, 2002 Report Share Posted June 18, 2002 Dancing about geography, errr, sort of: "Standing with one foot poised on the highest point of the Rockies, her two hands stretched out from the Atlantic to the Pacific, her fine head tossed to the sky, her forehead shining with a crown of a million stars." Isadora Duncan The Art of Dance Okay, speaking of dancing about architecture, why not check out a little cosmic baseball? Here's Frank Zappa's Plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezy Posted June 18, 2002 Report Share Posted June 18, 2002 All this talk about Frank reminds me... Read Zappa's autobiography!! It was (co-) written by Frank himself, so it's hilarious... My favorite chapter has the transcripts from his trial in England regarding obscene lyrics -- soooo funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlet Posted June 18, 2002 Report Share Posted June 18, 2002 "writing about music is like dancing about arcitexture - it's a really stupid thing to want to do" - elvis costello, in music source: http://quotes.prolix.nu/Authors/?Elvis_Costello but still, a very good quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcane Posted June 18, 2002 Report Share Posted June 18, 2002 quote:Originally posted by dancingfool: Then again, I've been dubbed an empath...Sweetheart, you're more than that--you are a familiar. I'm convinced that some witch is wandering around with a 6'2" hole bouncing around uncontrollably in her psyche. Yeah, audiences notice Dancingfool. Bands notice Dancingfool. Seismographs notice Dancingfool. (Thanks to Bradm--who is always quick with a one-liner--for that last one.) Forget the Great Wall of China--a dancing Dancingfool is the only Wonder of the World visible from orbit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcane Posted June 18, 2002 Report Share Posted June 18, 2002 I'm thinkin' it's probably easier to sing about architecture. I prefer to rattle architecture with my singing. Dancingfool can vouch that I'm capable of hitting the resonant frequency of my dashboard, loudly and sustained (okay, its not a building, but some people practically live in their cars). This might not be considered a good thing by all, especially the dashboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingfool Posted June 18, 2002 Report Share Posted June 18, 2002 I guess - people keep thinking I look so familiar. At least the recognise me a lot. And yes, I'll vouch arcane finds resonant frequencies easily. It's normally not disturbing, except when one is going at 120kph down the 417 and there's already a crack present... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingfool Posted June 19, 2002 Report Share Posted June 19, 2002 One art form for another? Heck, there's an easy example: dancing about music. Dancing FOR music. Dancing TO music. Are all three interchangeable? I have a probably rationally irrational need to dance to music. Mostly because I want to contribute and not sponge off, and it's a way many musicians have appreciated to have their energy returned amplified to them. The dance can be freeform (as some have seen at D&T) or more controlled (I study some folk dancing styles), but both stem from the music. Yet I don't think they describe the music, they add to it. Talking about music can be done in a purely technical manner for some of its aspects: one chord followed by these notes followed by another chord. Talking about Music seems another matter, difficult to do with technical, careful descriptions, but more through poetry and imagery to try and approximate in its ensemble a portion of a feeling approaching that which was experienced, the verbal striving for the non-verbal, such as bradm's descriptions of Nero at babylon. I wasn't there but I felt something of what happened. Then again, I've been dubbed an empath... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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