The music
In his novel, come biography, come guide, The Art of Learning, chess prodigy Josh Waitskin describes his love for winning.
The appeal of victory is usually in the hope it will immortalise us. For Josh, it is quite the reverse. Because in reality winning is fleeting, gone almost as soon as it is achieved.
In that transience, Josh finds his beauty.
As I read Josh’s words, I had a vision of Sibelius’s 5th symphony.
Many composers have understood how to drive their music to ecstasy, to ‘victory’. But once there, few have understood the power in letting it all go quite like Sibelius.
The final movement of the 5th symphony contains one of the greatest melodies ever written. A sweeping vision of 16 swans coming in to nest in the Finnish foothills. Majesty, grandeur, fierce joy.
It comes, it repeats, just the once, and then it goes.
The movement goes on to climb mountains, banish all doubts, triumph over death. And then it vanishes into the cosmos. No sentimentality, no looking back – it is, then is not. Surely, the most extraordinary ending of any piece written.
The highs of life are rare and should be savoured. Not only for their energy and clarity, power and beauty. But also because they cannot last forever.
In letting go of them freely and with joy, in understanding them as moments in a larger, more extraordinary tapestry, they, like those swans and that symphony, become more miraculous still.
The recording
My two favourite videos are mirror images of each other, both featuring Esa Pekka Salonen. In the first, Salonen is young and wild, the orchestra calm and serious. In the second Esa Pekka is the master, and the orchestra are young firebrands.
I chose the latter in the end. There’s something magical in it that I’m under-qualified to explain.
Before you listen, I just want to say that if you enjoyed this, there are two things you could do:
You could hit reply and say hi. You could tell me what the symphony conjured up for you. You could share some other musical memory. Or you could tell me who you are and what you do.
Alternatively, hit forward and send it to someone. Just type something simple like ‘Hi, I know you love music so I thought you’d like this. Enjoy!’ then off it goes.
I make music so that I can share it and interact with other people. Out of all the people reading this, if only you react, it’ll still make my day. Guaranteed.
Now go on, treat yourself. It will be the most memorable 8 minutes of your day.
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