I will be exploring the connection of music to literature. As I violinist, I find music to be my instrument of expression of myself and an expression of the unknown. Music is not a magic, or an art, or a science; it is music. Yes I can view it as a medium of human expression, and I can only try to put it into words. I view classical music as untainted by prejudice or bias or money; and because I view it as a gift, a very innate gift, I would like to compare the arts of Hawthorne and James through the lens of the musical effect of language. For me, and perhaps every musician that has come before me, music is what keeps my page clear when I need it to be, or fills it when I do not wish to have anything written upon it by foreign hands. And since I find stringed music and musical notation to be wholly fluid, it is very influential, insofar is it is always straightforward and honest with its intentions. Music is, at its classical roots, still relatively pure--as the tempo and volume are subject to limited change--and therefore less prone to become convoluted and misconstrued like other forms of communication. Especially virtual communication.
Metaphors of music, in the context of literature, therefore, are not attempts to define or limit music to anything, but to examine their shared aesthetic qualities. Psychological studies, such as those by Leonard B. Meyer, try to frame music within four categories: Formalist Expression, Referentialist, and Absolutist for instance. But music existed long before any tags, or categories were placed on it, and despite its achieved perfections like the Baroque and Romantic eras, it saw its fall from its "classical grace" and descended into the wilderness.
Literature shares musical patterns (as far as music theory goes), i.e.
Consonance:Staccato :: Alliteration:Phrasing, or
Anthology:Opus :: Book:Piece, and
Chapter:Movement :: Tone:Key+Tempo.
Words:Notes :: Scenery:Accompaniment, and so on.
And while musical theory, like media, is not a full-body, and entirely real human experience, it comes close. But, that is only if the information is made clear, without using vague and deceptive terminology, which is hard to do, as students of music all learn, agree upon, and share one language, as of now, that is, in addition to any other languages they may know. Music and patterns are based on logical harmony and unity; the vibrations of a musical instrument and the musical notes can spring a heart to life. Because scientific definitions or changing the name of music, can never take away its sounds. A work of literature, can come to life, but it is very internal.
The vibrating notes of music that ring throughout the body of the musician come from simple wood and wires, which have been handcrafted by dedicated artisans. The smell of the lacquered wood, and when the horse's hair of the bow touches and slides across the nickel and silver of the strings, a small dusty ghost of amber rises up and flies away, carrying with it a part of the musician through the air. To take part in this, and to go beyond and take part in it with another person or a group of musicians who are all of one accord and one understanding, of their own free will; that is how I view the perfect medium of communication. Beneficent and effective, sharing of expression. Unadulterated, unaddled, unintrusive, and without deception or hidden intent.
I need to look up the exact words to the passages for the literature that I had in mind. Which I am not going to do right now.
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