home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Newsgroups: rec.music.classical
- Path: sparky!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!yale.edu!think.com!rpi!ees1a0.engr.ccny.cuny.edu!sci.ccny.cuny.edu!eleni.gc.cuny.edu!timessqr.gc.cuny.edu!cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu!KOS
- From: kos@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu (Bob Kosovsky)
- Subject: More on Abell
- Message-ID: <1992Dec21.132419.12051@timessqr.gc.cuny.edu>
- Sender: news@timessqr.gc.cuny.edu (USENET News System)
- Reply-To: kos@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu
- Organization: Computer Center, CUNY Graduate School, New York NY 10036
- Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 13:24:19 GMT
- Lines: 42
-
- In response to my previous posting, I've received mail concerning Arthur
- Abell's book "Talks with Great Composers." I mentioned how Abell, had
- a stenographer record a 3-way conversation with Brahms, Joachim and
- himself over a 4-day period, and I considered the results "phantasmagorical."
- One respondent expressed wonder at what I meant. Here's an excerpt (p. 5):
-
- "How Brahms Contacted God [excerpt]"
-
- "I immediately feel vibrations that thrill my whole being." Brahms continued.
- "These are the Spirit illuminating the soul-power within, and in this
- exalted state, I see clearly what is obscure in my ordinary moods; then I feel
- capable of drawing inspiration from above, as Beethven did. Above all, I
- realize at such moments the tremendous significance of Jesus[' supreme
- revelation, 'I and my Father are one.' Those vibrations assume the forms
- of distinct mental images, after I have formulated my desire and resolve
- in regard to what I want--namely, to be inspired so that I can compose
- something that will uplift and benefit humanity--something of permanent value."
-
- "Straightway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only
- do I see distint themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right
- forms, harmonies and orchestration. Measure by measure, the finished
- product is revealed to me when I am in those rare, inspired moods, as they
- were to Tartini when he composed his greatest work--the Devil's Trill
- Sonata. I have to be in a sem-trance condition to get such results--a
- condition when the conscious mind is in temporary abeyance and the
- subconscious is in control, for it is through the subsconscious mind, which
- is a part of Omnipotence, that the inspiration comes. I have to be careful,
- however, not to lose consciousness, otherwise the ideas fade away."
- [end of quote]
-
- (At first it may seem odd that Brahms mentioned Tartini (of all things), but
- he was aware that Abell was an aspiring violinist.) I'm not saying this
- is all trash (though I suspect many would), but there are many passages
- where the discussion touches upon the supernatural. I suppose that's
- what happens when the beer flows late at night.
-
-
- Bob Kosovsky
- Graduate Center -- Ph.D. Program in Music(student)/ City University of New York
- New York Public Library -- Music Division
- bitnet: kos@cunyvms1.bitnet internet: kos@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu
- Disclaimer: My opinions do not necessarily represent those of my institutions.
-