One of my favorite things about music, whether I’m performing on stage or observing from the audience, is a perfectly placed and held silence. Pieces like Barber’s Adagio, and the finales to Tchaikovsky’s 6th and Mahler’s 9th, possess some of the repertoires most powerful silences which make up just a few of my most beloved moments in classical music. These gaps in sound often times have more meaning than the music itself, because without a clean canvas, how would we paint a beautiful picture? Without silence, how can we say anything of importance? Without rest, how can we pivot or have enough gas left in the tank to make it to the end? The parallel between this musical tool and life at the moment is something that’s been heavy on my heart recently. It’s been a difficult week and I haven’t been able to write as much as I wanted to. I hit a mental roadblock that affected my productivity, and even though I don’t have an existing deadline, I put pressure on myself to push through and keep my content flowing. I grew more worrisome that if I didn’t put something out there quickly enough, I’d lose momentum and a potential audience. Then I had to remind myself that this is ok, and that rest is necessary for me to process my emotions and become clear headed again so that I can gather my thoughts and get them down on paper again. What I needed was silence. I needed a to reflect on what’s passed, and to prepare for what’s to come. I want my actions and words to have meaning, and to blossom from a place of peace, and quiet.
Although our circumstances have changed and we’re spending our days at home, we’ve just transferred the rat race of everyday life to the internet. Social media has proven to be a very useful place for staying connected and serves as a great platform for artists out of work, but we still need to be wary of the guilt and pressure it can instil in us. That danger is still there, and the oversaturation of content has made it harder than ever to feel like we are doing enough during this time. If you need to recharge, then turn the phone off and relax. If you are passionate about a project or recording and want to share it, then share away! The point is, we are all in a different place and it’s ok to own it. I mean, will we ever see a time in our lives again where pants are optional and we’re operating by airport rules? I don’t want to look back on this time and wish I had given myself more grace. Rest is essential in music as it is in life, and I think it’s important that we all take time to listen to our bodies and not feel guilty for doing what’s best for ourselves.
As for me, I might not be cranking these posts out as often as I originally intended, but that being said, my posts will always come from a place of clarity and care. Up next, I’ll be expanding on this topic of rest among other great things with the German cellist, Johannes Moser. We had a great conversation last week and I’m working on an article that will really do it justice, so stay tuned! Thank you to everyone who’s taking the time to read my blog and I’m always open to your feedback. I have also added a place to sign up for a newsletter on my homepage (www.backstagewithbrooke.com) if you are interested in getting updates!
With love from the couch,
Brooke
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