This evening, on the PBS news, the newly appointed poet laureate (U.S.) to the Library of Congress, W. S. Merwin, in the course of a completely appropriate interview mentioned the uniquely human urge "to be completely involved" in the act of imagination, in creating something. True, he did seem to define imagination as being able to feel with the endangered humpback whale, with the starving of Dafur, and so forth, what they are experiencing, and to me that is empathy, which of course is excellent and human, which does require some imagination. In the whole list he gave, however, he mentioned only things that involve being one with suffering. Whatever happened to the Lark, to the host of Daffodils, to the laughter of children, to creating a Galatea? Yet I have no right to ask a very estimable poet to share my own list. Surely he is right, that total involvement of mind, body, and soul in imagining, in making (not in any particular medium, he was quick to explain) something just because it wants to be made by oneself (not for oneself, not for anyone else in particular) is the uniquely human urge. Sometimes art for art's sake is sneered at, but probably only because those who do not, or do not yet, understand it are a little frightened by the idea.
An hour later, Pierre Boulez led the Chicago Symphony in Mahler's 7th Symphony. I thought I knew all the Mahler symphonies, but, though of course one would recognize the composer, I did not know this one. And all the strengths of the Chicago orchestra were in great form. It was a wonderful occasion in my life of music-listening, and if there is a repeat performance I shall stay up late to hear it. This could become my favorite Mahler. Between the great composer-conductor, Boulez, and Mahler, and that great orchestra, here indeed was what Merwin must mean.
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I heard the San Fransisco Symphony perform Mahler 7 at the 2007 Prom season. It's one of the most interesting of the cycle and my favourite of the 9. There's a good DGG recording.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere in Paracelsus there's the statement 'Imagination is the star in man'.
I didn't think Merwin himself was asserting himself to be the first person to have thought of it, but it was (a) a good lead in, and (b) a good chance to mention a poet worth reading to anyone and everyone. I love both Boulez and the Chicago Orchestra. Until, I hope, the combination can be ordered or downloaded, I just ordered Abbado, whom I also love, and the Berlin Philharmonic so as to have the 7th for myself. Of course, I also am fond of the S. F. Orchestra, the gold standard of my childhood, but I didn't find them on line for the 7th.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed, that's what I thought: perhaps the greatest of the nine.
the 7th is much under-estimated!
ReplyDeleteIs the Abbado with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra 1984 available on DGG ?
I reckon most recordings of Mahler are good though because of the technical challenge in recording such a vast orchestra!
Yes, available here: http://www.amazon.com/Mahler-Symphony-No-7-Gustav/dp/B000001GNE/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1288336666&sr=1-2
ReplyDeleteThe sound ought to be fine, because a 1984 recording was made digitally anyhow (translated to analog for immediate release on vinyl); anyway, even earlier, they took great pains, and I have some of those Chicago recordings of other symphonies, and even with a huge chorus added they are fine. But Abbado, great to begin with, has grown with the years, and Berlin has great brass, too.
Thanks for the link Pat. Actually these days I am trying to give up poets, ever since the dull Andre Motion of the University here, UEA was laureate. It can be a heavy mantle seemingly infallible with great expectations to be labeled poet, even more so laureate. A much more relevant sensibility in the UK now that Carol Ann Duffy is Laureate!
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