Sunflowers by MonetStudying the Flute with Barbara Allen: Harshness & Sweetness in the largo from Bach's Sonata in B minor -- and Me. * * * * * May 5, 2007 The beautiful largo movement from Bach's sonata in B minor is beautiful for the reason explained by Eli Siegel; it puts reality's opposites together, the same opposites we want to put together in ourselves. It is sweet and strong, and we want to be. In the introduction to "Self and World" Eli Siegel writes:
As a person who spent years of my life presenting a sweet appearance and then erupting in anger and harsh words that made me ashamed and had me worried about how close I would ever feel toward anyone (or anyone else to me!), learning this and studying it is one of the greatest reasons for my gratitude to Aesthetic Realism, Eli Siegel, my consultants and to Class Chairman Ellen Reiss. Rigor is in the deep rhythmic heartbeat underlying every measure of this largo. The melody is modest and thoughtful, but also terrifically passionate. When it soars it doesn't show off, get giggly and lose its dignity. Many of the notes are in the middle range of the flute, and the much of the movement is in modest increments and even runs with sudden quickenings of grace notes. In the lecture we have been studying in the Opposites in the Flute class, Mr. Siegel said: “ …the combination is looked for: something strong and something lively. That is exactly the combination in art, whatever its form.” Here are the first two measures (Please use your own system to play this until I can put on the music clips): And I am grateful to Miss Allen for teaching us that these opposites of strength and sweetness or assertiveness and yielding are one in every aspect of technique, from our stance, which is to stand tall, but not thrust out your chin combatively, nor your elbows in harsh, self-protective angles—to our embouchure, which is to be firm, precise, but not tight and bearing down, always with softness. We are learning how to use playing the flute to like the world, literally. Later in the movement the flute does soar. And there is something harsh. Would this movement be less beautiful without it? (play first three measures of the second half.) I cannot say all the reasons technically why this is so, but this sharpness is so right, and it is so hopeful. It stands for the fact that we can see in such a way that our sweetness and our harshness can go together; this is what is needed by people the world over, in social life and between cultures and nations. * * *
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Here are further links about how Aesthetic Realism sees the arts & sciences, urgent cultural and economic matters, ethics, and the life questions of every person:Anthropologist and author Dr. Arnold Perey tells of his field research in New Guinea and the classes he teaches today--and much more--at Aesthetic Realism: A New Perspective for Anthropology For teachers, parents, and others, here are links that will tell you more about the Aesthetic Realism Teaching Method:
What makes a photograph beautiful? How can a photographer improve his or her work? What does the art of photography have to do with justice to people? Find out at Len Bernstein: Photographic Education Based on the Aesthetic Realism of Eli Siegel Some of Eli Siegel's books, essays, lectures, and poems can be read at The Aesthetic Realism Online Library Also, see what critics have said about Aesthetic Realism and Eli Siegel. Aesthetic Realism Associate Lynette Abel tells here about classes she attended taught by Eli Siegel, reports on classes conducted by Ellen Reiss, and reprints some of the newspaper articles she has written: Lynette Abel: Aesthetic Realism and Life What interferes with our expression? Find out at Aesthetic Realism Encourages Self-Expression the website of Miriam Mondlin Read Ellen Reiss's critical observations about the poetry of Robert Burns (one of our favourite poets). She shows how relevant what Burns was writing about 200 years ago is to what is going on today. His poetry has the terrifically just way of seeing people that is needed by government leaders and every one of us. |