an impellent…
the funerial hum—skin prickling—
plumbed, prodded by plucking
the deepest heart
strings close to the gut
as the pulsing core
stretches and strains—minor key—
a question, like a breeze
breathed upon a branch,
and an answer
a dialogue scored
time and time again—lingering doubt—
questions kept quiet
for unspoken answers
and wonder
the heart is pried
at the drawing of strings—a mercy—
a fiddling to unfold, flatten
to bare nerve
and soul
a courageous voice
persists and pleads—bleeds out—
turns against tempo and time,
time in pulse
and pipe
time and tempo progress
in reverential rhythm—ever slowly—
sweetens and sooths
the perpetual walk
of examination
the voice risks
one last question—knee bending—
time and tempo crescendo
to revelation, insistent
with hope
Adagio in G Minor for strings and organ caught my attention a couple years ago and become a favorite. Mystery surrounds who authored it and to what degree. It involves two composers: Tomaso Albinoni (18th century, Venice) and Remo Giazotto (20th century, Rome). In my reading up on it, it’s an ongoing debate in the music world. It seems, though, that the most common understanding is that Giazotto found a remnant of Albinoni’s composition and finished it; I think that’s putting the best possible construction on it.
I suggest listening to it without distraction. The joy of instrumental music is that, while there are intentions from the composer, the ultimate interpretation is up to the listener, and this gets influenced by the conductor and orchestra performing it. It’s exciting to think of all the possibilities that can come of that blend of relationships.
- What does it make you think about?
- What happens to you, physically, when you listen to it?
- What do you want to do about it?
- What can propel you to do it?
- What is stopping you?
Embracing art is about embracing the full span of what it can do to a single person in their unique situation. It’s about creating something and then letting it go…possibly to become something you never intended for someone you’ll never know.
For me, Adagio in G Minor sometimes has me reminiscing about people I’ve lost or miss. Sometimes it drudges up regrets or current conundrums. Sometimes I feel inspired and hopeful. Give me a different day and a different circumstance, and the piece will give me a different nudge.
Enjoy, from the New York Classical Players: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JXeoZpMnNc
a tilting of air 