When
Paavo Järvi was in town last month conducting the Cincinnati Symphony
Orchestra, I asked him “what is music?” He proceeded to tell me that “music
communicates without the necessity of words” and that “talk takes away from
music.” While emphasizing that opera and
songs are not inferior art forms in comparison to instrumental music, he
explained that “instrumental music gets inside” you like no other type of music.
A slow movement of a Mahler symphony or a Mozart piano concerto or
Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise: these are
examples he provided of music that really move your soul. In relation to modern
times, he pointed out that “music videos take all imagination away [not
allowing people] to think for themselves.”
We
often times play performances by violinist Anne Akiko Meyers on air. The day
following my chat with Paavo, I also had the privilege to see how Ms. Meyer’s
defines “music.”
“Music
is everything. It’s life, it’s heart, it’s soul, it’s beauty, it’s why we
live.” What a beautiful definition! When asked what modern composer stretches
her perception of music, Ms. Meyers responded “Arvo Pärt.” Recently, she has
devoted much time to his Passacaglias that appear on her new album.
Ms.
Meyers went on to say that her favorite living composer to perform would be
Mason Bates, specifically his Violin Concerto.
You’ve
had a week to ponder music. So what is music to you? Beethoven, Brahms, Stravinsky? Or the sound of thunder, a gentle breeze, or a familiar laugh? There is no wrong answer...I'd love to hear your thoughts!
