The Relationship Between Invisible Internal Objects

The Princess: Maquette for Animation by Clive Hicks-Jenkins

In his address to the parents of incoming freshman at the Boston Conservatory this year,  Karl Paulnack spoke of the ancient connections between astronomy, "the study of relationships between observable, permanent, external objects" and music, "the study of relationships between invisible, internal, hidden objects." He detailed some immensely powerful moments in more recent history in which humans turned to music to do what none of the other things we cling to for survival could manage: save us.

He also told them:

The responsibility I will charge your sons and daughters with is this: 'If we were a medical school, and you were here as a med student practicing appendectomies, you'd take your work very seriously because you would imagine that some night at two AM someone is going to waltz into your emergency room and you're going to have to save their life. Well, my friends, someday at 8 PM someone is going to walk into your concert hall and bring you a mind that is confused, a heart that is overwhelmed, a soul that is weary. Whether they go out whole again will depend partly on how well you do your craft.'"

It is a speech that is not to be missed, and so for those of us who missed it, it becomes necessary to go here and read it, now. It's only a few minutes of your life, but key minutes.

On a related note, Artist Clive Hicks-Jenkins is collaborating with the Mid Wales Chamber Orchestra to  present The Soldier's Tale (Stravinsky/Ramuz):

Joseph the Soldier, and his Soul, the Violin, by Clive Hicks-Jenkins

It is a tale which doubts not at all the deep connection between music and the soul, and the damnation of losing them.

Don't miss that: