6/365 With Words

"Words Not Required"

Despite the fact fact that I am a musician by profession, I very rarely write about music here.  I'm not really sure why that is.  Perhaps it is because music is such a huge part of who I am that writing about it is like writing about stop signs or lane dividers on the road way; certainly every knows what it is and whit is here.  That is probably a terribly naive and unrealistic perspective on my part.  The other possibility is that I spend all day at school talking about music.  When I get home, I want to do something else.  

Words are a big part of my life as well.  Books are everywhere.  I have multiple games of Words With Friends in progress.  We have witty buttons and bumper stickers all over our office.  Still, I was somewhat stumped as to what I could do with today's photo prompt.  I didn't want just take a photograph of a word or phrase.  I wanted to stretch myself creatively.  (Some days it doesn't take much to be pushed beyond my creative comfort zone.)  

In digging through a drawer in my office I found the button that I used in this picture.  Since today's prompt was "with words" and the button's sentiment speaks of the failure of words, I figured that there should be something that I could do with it that might be marginally creative.  I went with the obvious - the button on a piece of music.  Admittedly, this not particularly creative or subtle.  From the piano, I grabbed the music that I had been practicing, just to have a background.  I wasn't thinking too much about what piece I actually used.  As I was looking at the images I shot, all of the sudden the title, "Romance", jumped at me.  Well, sort of.  As you probably noticed, the complete title is not present in the picture.  Words fail here, but the music still speaks.    

It is with romance that so often our words fail us.  We turn to a song to express our love or heartache or joy or sadness.  We've all done it.  We all have "a song" that floods us with feelings.

I am reading a novel right now to which the author has included a soundtrack.  After every chapter or two there is a link to a song.  One of the main characters in the book is a music therapist so it stands to reason that using music to enhance the character's emotional appeal is in keeping with the overall affect of the story.  In thinking about the fact that this author uses music to tell her story, I was reminded of a birthday gift.

Every year I give Weber a soundtrack, a mix tape, that is a summary in music of the previous year.  It goes without saying that these collections are eclectic, encompassing many artists and genres.  In creating this soundtrack, I relive the year, its events and emotions, and attempt to find songs that sum it all up.  Consider a musical scrapbook, if you will.  

There have been many events in our lives where words definitely fell short and music was the most meaningful way we had to communicate with one another.

This year has just began.  Consider creating your own Soundtrack to 2013.