New Article Series on The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky and an Article on Creative Obesession
Analysis of The Rite of Spring
For those who know Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, you probably can understand how daunting of a listen it can be. It’s… a lot. For us composers out there, it’s even more. There’s so much that’s happening in this ballet that anyone who dives into it is certain to drown in all the eccentricities it presents. I am no different. I’ve been drowning in this beautiful piece of music for a couple of weeks now.
I have started a new blog series where I’m going through the entire ballet, rehearsal number by rehearsal number, trying to piece out interesting things that I see. Granted, this is not a thorough analysis. I’ll leave that to the academics. But as far as my own interests go, I want to see what I could do differently as a composer. What better way to do that than study something completely out my comfort zone?
New Blog on Creative Obsession
I believe there needs to be a broader discussion about the merits of obsession. Culturally, it's clear that many people in America today believe that obsession will lead to success, wealth, and prosperity. A former student of mine remarked that she worked 100+ hour weeks for two years as an investment banker. Another friend of mine who owns a store in South Austin often proudly (but heavily) speaks of his heavy 90+ hour workweek and how much profit his store makes. I have friends in the film industry who work so hard that I see their health deteriorating, right before my eyes.