I didn’t want to die until I had written at least a page that goes straight to the heart.
—Ernest Chausson (1855-99), French composer
We all want to do that: to write a page in a book, a poem, a page of music, paint a painting, or whatever we do creatively that goes straight to the heart. After all, no one sits down to create the world’s okayest work.
Of course, a good way to end up creating something mediocre is to go in with the intention of creating a masterpiece. Nonetheless, Chausson did well, as even Debussy himself had high praise for his Poème for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 25: “Nothing is more touching than the gentle dreaminess at the end of this Poème, where, casting aside any ideas of description or narrative, the music itself is the sentiment that commands our feelings.”
It’s good music to write to. Listen to one of the best violinists in history, Hilary Hahn, play it:
Last week: Colleen Doran and the gap the size of the universe.
Next week: Zadie Smith gets nauseous.
See the index for what’s been posted and what’s to come.
I'd love to hear from you!