I'm also currently reading Reich's biography of Clara Schumann (I imagine this will be the first and last time when Clara Schumann and Law and Order are mentioned in such close space), and one thing which Reich celebrates about Clara, often overlooked in celebrating Clara's strength and accomplishments, is how art and music were places where the pianist was "sustain[ed]" through considerable moments of hardship and tragedy.
Thus, as a result of thinking about these two women (albeit, one fictional), I've started thinking about the power music has over us mortals. It's easy to lose sight of the greater emotional meaning and implications of something you study. When you're constantly trying to improve tonal memory, increase theoretical/harmonic and historical knowledge and vocabulary, and get that damn English essay done for your English requirement, it's easy to forget that there was a reason we all chose this path.
Music has always meant a tremendous amount to me. While I always referred to it as a place of healing moreso than a place of affection or sustainment, I think that's ultimately what music has been in my life. Arguably, affection is part of what sustains the human race. Rare is the person who doesn't seek relationships based in mutual affection.
I know for me, and for most of my friends, music is one such relationship. It's probably fair to say that, for most of us, music lives and breathes. It gives more to us than we could ever give to it; hence the fact that we're able to spend hours in a practice room, go home, get some sleep (hopefully!), and then go at it again the next day.
Explaining what, exactly, it is that music gives back to us musicians is arguably the inexpressible part (too bad; so many more people would probably understand why we don't care that about the lack of money if they could comprehend the non-pecuniary rewards involved).
Music was - is - where I express emotions, come to terms with them. It's where I find, express, explain, and understand sadness, joy, anger, excitement. It's where my joys are reinforced, and where my sadness and anger can simply be. It's where I realize that everything is temporal; neither pain nor joy lasts forever, so each moment holds the potential for beauty. Knowledge which has sustained me through some pretty rough days...
Yet all of these things come back to sustaining affection. As I understand it, affection is one's sense of being cherished; dear to someone, or, in this case, something. Affection is grounded in acceptance of one as one is, perhaps with an eye for who one could be. Suzuki once suggested that to become a better musician, one must first become a better person. I think they go hand in hand - the affection we put into our music is returned to us, and we become better people, as we become better musicians - sustained, cherished by the music we're creating.
Yes, I'm aware that this all likely made me sound like a sentimental dolt. ;-)
Now, it's time to go read some more about Clara Schumann, who, I should add, is fascinating!
