What Being A Musician is Really About

Sorry for the long hiatus everyone.  Life has been…well…complicated lately.  However, that’s unpleasent conversation at best, and not fit for this scared space.  I thought we’d kick this blog off with what being a musician is truly about.  I’ll start with my view (as filtered through Bach’s words and personality).

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For many a moon now, I’ve been thinking, philosophizing, debating with myself, contemplating, and hypothesizing about one thing: music.  The great mystery and quagmire I find myself immersed in is merely what the fabric of this essence of divinity is and why mankind is attracted to it’s very existence.

This journey started years ago when I heard a sound in my brain, that to this day, I cannot explain what it is.  From that moment I was obsessed.  As I grew older, I learned it was some sort of music.    But what sort?  I had to know what this glorious sound was in my head.  Was it life?  Love?  Hope……or…..perhaps even….God?

From my earliest teachings, I was told music was “fun” and “enjoyable.”  “True enough,” I thought to my young self.  However, over time I’ve been taught much more about this “thing” knows simply as “music.”  I’ve looked in every direction to find more about this “thing.”  From Bernstein to Brahms, I studied….I listened.  I conferred with Bach….laughed with Mozart.  And still, the answer did not come.

Then I went to college…and learned music wasn’t a game…but serious “work.”  It was still enjoyment…but now there was more substance.  I again revisited my mentors…the living and the dead.  And this time….I actually learned something.  A great fire entered my heart and my soul…a passion that can never be extinguished.  For the first time in my life, I understood what Bernstein meant when he said, “Music is hard.”   Think of it like this. Imagine being blindfolded, dropped in a room with no light, and being asked to describe your surroundings.  You could do it, but only if you know exactly HOW to.  Music is very similar.

I opened my ears…and began to listen.  I analyzed chords…ripped apart symphonies, dissected Bach, dusted off Mozart…and still…no answer.   Music was still as elusive, if not more so, than the day I first heard the unknown sound.  That astronomically distant sound.

Then I graduated, seeing close mentors and friends leave; and pondered day in and day out, “Why I had more knowledge…but no answers.”    I looked around and saw a world in shambles and even the musical world full of things unacceptable.  Preeminent conductors placing themselves above their ensembles, musicians letting their instruments collect dust (yes, I’m guilty of it too), “scholarship” being replaced by “guessing games.”  And then I found myself becoming angry.  I sacrifice and study, but yet, it wasn’t expected of others?  It was unacceptable to me.

For those that don’t know, I consider myself very much a Bach “disciple”; and there’s a reason for that.  When I was in middle school band, my dad taught me about classical music (he was a big reason I joined band in the first place…heck, I wanted to play football…heh….life is funny isn’t it?).  Anyway, he gave me a Bach CD.  And I heard “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” (BWV 140), or “Sleepers Wake” for the first time.  A beautiful orchestral transcription, that had me in tears by the end.  I heard “truth” and that sound again.  I then looked at the composer’s name…and a love for Bach was born.   I wanted to be like this man…this Bach.

Well, long story short (sorry guys and gals; just something I’ve wanted to talk about for a long time!) I’ve been studying Bach in some shape or fashion for nearly 12 years now…and I learn something new everyday.

In that study of Bach, I’ve learned what being a musician is about.  Servitude to the art itself, dedication, commitment, and excellence.   All directed towards this mysterious being known as music.   In a insightful internet blog devoted to Bach, Brad Lehman, discussed a very familiar Bach:

“Johann Sebastian Bach simply did not put up with inferior work, or with people who tried to take shortcuts around learning! Bach’s tolerance went only so far as the amount that other people took the work seriously (their own training and practice), and brought any talent and diligence to it. It’s not about personal ego, but about bringing one’s best to the service of the music, and expecting everyone else to do that also. Chez Bach, there is simply no substitute for DOING good work, with training in the dozens of related aspects of musicianship: a comprehensive program of study.”

I believe it like I believe anything.  “Music is hard” and there’s no substitute for putting everything towards learning about it and doing it.  Music simply is.  Music is music, just as God is God.  As a musician, I hold a sacred duty to learn about it, but most of all, love it; that meaning, giving my life and all to it’s study.  I’m just sorry it took me 20 odd years to figure that out.  Being a musician is about loving music.  And that doesn’t mean playing all the flashiest and “popular” literature.  It’s about playing quality work, and playing it well (which I’ll admit, I’m guilty of not doing from time to time).  It’s about holding a whole note and becoming it.  It’s about putting yourself behind and inside the music; becoming the music and serving it’s will.   It’s about not settling for less. It’s about doing your utmost for the music.  Sadly, in society, settling for less is the norm.  Mediocrity is the quintessence of being “accepted” in today’s world.  Just try so much, and it’ll be ok.   Bach would’ve never approved; not the manly Bach…not the red-blooded Bach that felt everything and was so devoted to his art and his God, that everything was labeled, “Soli Deo Gloria” or “To the Glory of God Alone”

I know all of this sounds terribly mystical and ethereal, and possibly a little arrogant (if so, I humbly apologize).  However, I’m in a quest for music and it’s nature.  A quest that will, somewhat bittersweetly, never be truly completed.

Yes, Bernstein, “music is hard.”  But anything worth doing usually is, and is usually worth doing well.

“I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed . . . equally well.”
~Johann Sebastian Bach

It’s as true now as it was then.

Salutations and Purpose

Welcome to the Bachian Chord. This blog will periodically publish thoughts and ideas about music, religion, truth, and occasionally, politics. I will be adding things soon, but be forewarned, there may be large gaps between postings. While there are a myriad of reasons behind this lag, the main justification for this will be the uploading of quality reading. Items will not be posted in an apathetic or lackadaisical fashion. The juxtaposition of truth and music will serve as, with hope, a grounds for enlightenment.

As you may have noticed, the home page is adorned with the eyes of the composer Johann Sebastian Bach. I consider myself to be very much a student and disciple of this celebrated composer. Without going into a great amount historical nostalgia, Herr Bach was a man, just the same as you or me. He felt everything. His music is a reflection of a balance between extreme passion and devoted intellect. Within the eyes of Bach, I believe, lies truth. Herr Bach was a devoted servant of the Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. In Bach’s music (which is really God’s music), there was written on the top of almost every composition, the Latin phrase, “Soli Deo Gloria”, or in rough translation, “To the Glory of God Alone.” It was more than just some fancy motto; it was a firmly held idea. J.S. Bach lived each day “Soli Deo Gloria” in addition to being human. Above all, Bach was human. However, he was a great human being. One who loved, cried, felt anger, knew hatred, gave compassion, stood strongly for his ideals, nurtured his over 20 children throughout their lifetimes, educated many more children than that, and did so all with absolute conviction in his beliefs. Bach was indeed a man.

This blog shall be an honor to his memory. Therefore, I ask that you respect this place as somewhat sacred ground. Comments are welcomed, however, I ask that you respect other posters and use very little to no foul language. Bach would not have stood for it, and neither will I. If I find posts and comments that are cruel, vile, attacking in nature, they will be removed. There are ways to express even the strongest of emotions in eloquent ways. Herr Bach, like much else in his life, was a master. He would say exactly what he thought, but in educated and respectful ways. I ask of you, the readers and posters, to do the same. This world could use a heavy dose of honesty and eloquence, and this can be a novel place to begin that practice.

Those of you that know my true identity, I ask that you keep it to yourselves. Not that material will be incriminating or illegal, but it is always nice to be able to speak freely without the fear of neanderthalian reprisals.

I hope you find this sacred place refreshing, enlightening and soothing. I will welcome legitimate comments for improvement of the blog or possible topics of discussion. Again, I ask that it be kept in the spirit of Bach, with class and respect. If you must ask yourself, “Should I post this or say this?” then chances are it might not be acceptable. Use common sense and the fertile gray fields between thine ears with which the good Lord blessed you.

I do realize that this is the same message as on the Salutations page. The purpose of so doing this is to greet readers who may not wish to read beyond this page. This post will not be here forever, but will serve as a basis for the beginnings of a cultural revolution.
With Musical Warmth and Peace,
The-Not-So-Great Bachman