Where Does Music Come From?

I like the point that Josh brought up about appreciating something more if we have to work for it. I think by nature, humanity gets too bored or complacent without having to struggle to some degree. The question that still lingers for me after reading chapter six is whether the creativity is innate or the talent is. Or maybe they both are, I don't know. For the most part, I don't think musical talent is something people are just born with, though. Like the book pointed out, being a musician takes vast amounts of self-discipline and dedication. There are few people who don't have to struggle to play as well as they do. That doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to compose good music, though, and the ability to arrange and compose music is the aspect that I believe comes naturally to people. I've known of several people who are wonderfully creative when it comes to writing music, but awful when it comes to actually playing it. This split might be unique to the medium of music. What is a painter to do who can come up with wonderful concepts but is incapable of executing them? At least in music, you can still become a songwriter even if you can't perform music to save your life.


I was also interested, like a few others, in the personal isolation of many artists. I've read many interviews with different musicians who say they can't have relationships because they are married to their music. The most notable example for me is the English singer Morrissey (http://www.morrisseymusic.com/). He has lived in the musical limelight for the past twenty-three years, all the while proudly living a life of apparent celibacy. His lifestyle also goes along with what the book was discussing regarding the mythology of creation. In many circles, Morrissey is considered a musical legend (he doesn't play an instrument either, which illustrates my earlier point), yet very little is known about him. He is probably the most private rock star in recent memory. This could be dismissed as shyness, but if you pay any attention to his lyrics, this man is far too vain for coyness; he stays so quiet and private to create mystery, to create a mythology about himself. Some have considered him the musical embodiment of Oscar Wilde, and Wilde once said, "Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask and he will tell you the truth." It just makes you wonder how much of the pleasure we derive from art comes from this shroud of mystery surrounding the creator.