As if often the case in the world of the arts and humanities, each finds inspiration from the other. So it is not surprising to find works of art that have inspired musical compositions, or for music of some kind to inspire an artist to paint. When two masters, each respected in his own field, are connected by this kind of creative communication, some kind of new work emerges that is almost always interesting.
Two great masters, one an artist, the other a musician, produced works reflecting their loves for both music and art. Paul Klee took a definitive place in the contemporary world when his drawings and paintings gained public attention. The pieces reflected the stylistic trends of his lifetime. The same was true in following years, when Gunther Schuller composed an orchestral work inspired by the paintings of Paul. This commissioned piece successfully created musical expressions to match those in the art.
The composer honored the artist with notes describing his inspirations and rationale for choosing the paintings he did. He was specific about the various compositional techniques, colors and general themes that he saw and tried to express those in his music.
The seven musical pieces in the complete work have inspired debate and commentary. During the interview process, Schuller told the story about how he came to write what would be paired with Little Blue Devil. Because his own work focused on the melding of jazz and classical music as equally valid genres, the title caused him to think about the blues right away. He composed in that genre, as it was a perfect pairing of vocabulary and mood.
There are many essays about the love of music Paul retained through his entire life. His parents were musicians and his first instructors. He practiced his instrument regularly, even though his career as an artist kept him very involved. He maintained a constant interaction between the two disciplines.
Well known is the passion that he had for interpreting music through his art. He used the language of theoretical fundamentals for each of the two arts and sought to make the audible visual in his works. If he thought about line, as one example, it was often in relationship to both. Musicians and artists both speak of using lines in different ways, but as concepts they can be made meaningful through artistic expression. The notes in a melodic line move through auditory space, while the various lines in a drawing or painting inhabit visual space in two or three dimensions.
The seven paintings that uniquely inspired Schuller's compositions display a wide array of colors, shapes and lines. These artistic vocabulary words are common to both music and art. There is no doubt that this was completely understood by the artist. What is quite fascinating is that the composer could see these elements in the art, whether it be in a conscious way or not, and use them as springboards to create completely original music.
Since the time the work was premiered, many intellectual discussions have been held concerning his focus on the work of Paul. Without a doubt, the music has been played with and without commentary by the composer many times. But, what is important to take away from all of the words, is the theme of creative collaboration between two minds that have certainly thought alike. Both separately and through inspiration, they have demonstrated what is possible when global thinking takes place.
Two great masters, one an artist, the other a musician, produced works reflecting their loves for both music and art. Paul Klee took a definitive place in the contemporary world when his drawings and paintings gained public attention. The pieces reflected the stylistic trends of his lifetime. The same was true in following years, when Gunther Schuller composed an orchestral work inspired by the paintings of Paul. This commissioned piece successfully created musical expressions to match those in the art.
The composer honored the artist with notes describing his inspirations and rationale for choosing the paintings he did. He was specific about the various compositional techniques, colors and general themes that he saw and tried to express those in his music.
The seven musical pieces in the complete work have inspired debate and commentary. During the interview process, Schuller told the story about how he came to write what would be paired with Little Blue Devil. Because his own work focused on the melding of jazz and classical music as equally valid genres, the title caused him to think about the blues right away. He composed in that genre, as it was a perfect pairing of vocabulary and mood.
There are many essays about the love of music Paul retained through his entire life. His parents were musicians and his first instructors. He practiced his instrument regularly, even though his career as an artist kept him very involved. He maintained a constant interaction between the two disciplines.
Well known is the passion that he had for interpreting music through his art. He used the language of theoretical fundamentals for each of the two arts and sought to make the audible visual in his works. If he thought about line, as one example, it was often in relationship to both. Musicians and artists both speak of using lines in different ways, but as concepts they can be made meaningful through artistic expression. The notes in a melodic line move through auditory space, while the various lines in a drawing or painting inhabit visual space in two or three dimensions.
The seven paintings that uniquely inspired Schuller's compositions display a wide array of colors, shapes and lines. These artistic vocabulary words are common to both music and art. There is no doubt that this was completely understood by the artist. What is quite fascinating is that the composer could see these elements in the art, whether it be in a conscious way or not, and use them as springboards to create completely original music.
Since the time the work was premiered, many intellectual discussions have been held concerning his focus on the work of Paul. Without a doubt, the music has been played with and without commentary by the composer many times. But, what is important to take away from all of the words, is the theme of creative collaboration between two minds that have certainly thought alike. Both separately and through inspiration, they have demonstrated what is possible when global thinking takes place.
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