On The Current this morning (CBC radio), Anna Maria Tremonti interviewed Daniel Levitin who believes music is what makes us human. It was a fascinating interview. His new book, The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature, is an anthropological study going back at least 6,000 years in the history of music. He was talking about how music has the ability to comfort and connect us to a larger community of people of similar states of mind. Music actually shapes the evolution of our brains, thereby shaping civilizations.
He sees music and songs as metaphors for ideas, feelings, emotions that we share. Stories, music, art all have this capacity. I can’t say I agree with his choices for memorable music, but I do like what he is saying.
Somewhere in the interview, Levitin mentioned that Pete Seeger, who still strongly believes in the power of music, is ninety-five years old. All I could do was keep saying over and over, ninety-five years old, Pete Seeger is ninety-five years old. He was a major part of my youth. Besides the influence of his songs and his philosophy, his father and step-mother lived a few block away from my home. Peggy Seeger was a year ahead of me in High School. And I went to their house to take piano lessons with Mrs. Seeger. The father was a musical archivist and their home was always filled with music, in books and sounds. I really liked Mrs. Seeger. She was warm and generous of spirit. She wanted to teach me about improvisation, something I still want to learn, but my parents were strict about my learning classical music and so, they being the ones who paid for the lessons, I had to change teachers.
Now, the real bummer is our current Prime Minister. Mr. Harper decided to cut funding to arts groups in Canada because, as he feels, why spend money on things people don’t want. He is, in truth, just underlining how uncivilized he is. Without culture, who are we anyway, Mr. Harper!
* English playwright William Congreve
I saw/heard Pete Seeger (and Peter, Paul and Mary) one year at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
And I sang along--much to the horror of my husband--when he did a feminist number with a chorus of "show me the length of your c*ck".
Posted by: sue at September 17, 2008 08:48 PMOm,I've never heard Sue's song,that's halarious! Love Pete Seeger, I grew up listen to his music. Can't even remember a time not listening to him. It has been always!When I was a teen, Dad had recorded special tapes for listening to in the car, Pete Seeger all the way across Canada, while we sang along. Smiling to all our old favorites, Mum would say...Oh remember this one.
Ninety-five years old. Can't believe! Luv Luv to that wonderful man! You took lessons from Mrs. Seeger (wait till I tell Mum), Leya that is so cool! Funny how, even then you were into improve. Love that about you! I think I'll listen to some Pete Seeger today, while I paint.
Love all your latest paintings! Your work so inspires me! Luv to you!
Posted by: Jackie at September 19, 2008 09:13 AM