Chopin: Homework 7-5-18

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Wendy Seddon
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Chopin: Homework 7-5-18

Post by Wendy Seddon » Sat Apr 28, 2018 4:04 pm

Poetry and tragedy and music, beauty, mirth
were there within the ether when the ‘bang’ spewed forth our earth.
Mankind rose to harness every aspect of his race,
his fate to set the timeline and his heart to set the pace.
Though primitive that tribal beat through drums and warbling cries,
imbue the music of today no matter what its guise.

The songs my mother taught me as I sat beside her knee,
were in that fledgling sunrise as it rose ore ancient sea.
So scrambled a cacophony, man sought to arbitrate –
to seize the mantra of the world, to tame and orchestrate.
Genii through history stripped nature to its core
and gave it to the world to play from closely written score.

I close my eyes and think of one – a pianist of note,
who added little droplets of pure radiance when he wrote.
A virtuoso tormented throughout his earthly reign,
his music full of passion written from a place of pain.
His fingers all afire as they danced across the keys,
Chopin – the romantic and to my mind prince of these.

His music is so perfect, although he had many faults -
I dream throughout his nocturnes and sway through every waltz.
His preludes and sonatas when performed earn every clap!
The polka-like Mazurka really sets my feet to tap.
His music stands the test of time, through every passing age,
and I would throw him roses , if I could, upon his stage.
Wen de Rhymewriter There is nothing mundane about the ordinary.

Neville Briggs
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Re: Chopin: Homework 7-5-18

Post by Neville Briggs » Sun Apr 29, 2018 3:55 pm

G'day Wendy. If you 'google" Chopin 2nd piano concerto, 2nd movement. There is a video that should come up of a gentleman playing this. It is the most wonderful romantic music.

I was intrigued by your first two lines that places poetry, music, beauty and mirth in the ether (?) of the big bang. As I understand it, poetry, music beauty and mirth are things that are personal i.e. they are attributes of persons not attributes of things. (Beauty might be an attribute of things but it is discerned by personal observation, isn't it )

As I understand it the big bang is an event of impersonal material forces, so my question is; how does the personal arise from the impersonal. Just food for thought. :roll: :D
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

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Wendy Seddon
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Re: Chopin: Homework 7-5-18

Post by Wendy Seddon » Sun Apr 29, 2018 4:09 pm

Hi Nev,
I actually am referring to God here....
if as some believe, He was responsible for the 'bang'.
Not wanting a theology debate, just writing from my heart.
Wen de Rhymewriter There is nothing mundane about the ordinary.

Neville Briggs
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Re: Chopin: Homework 7-5-18

Post by Neville Briggs » Sun Apr 29, 2018 8:24 pm

I see what you mean, fair enough Wendy. :)
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: Chopin: Homework 7-5-18

Post by Shelley Hansen » Thu May 03, 2018 11:05 am

Oh yes, Wendy - you and me both! I am a Chopin devotee from way back. I suppose playing the piano myself has given me an enhanced appreciation of his genius. He really did know how to write for the instrument! Do you play?

Neville mentioned the 2nd movement of the 2nd Piano Concerto. It is beautiful indeed - but I also love the 2nd movement of the 1st Piano Concerto. Chopin himself wrote about it: "The music is of a calm and partly melancholy character. It is intended to convey the impression which one receives when the eye rests on a beloved landscape that calls up in one's soul beautiful memories." It is exquisite - and no one plays it quite like the late great Arthur Rubinstein.

About 13 years ago I was exploring sonnets and their forms and I wrote a Petrarchan sonnet for Chopin. It's on my website. You might like to read it, Wendy. Here's the link http://www.shelleyhansen.com/23/frederic-chopin

Lovely to share with you a mutual interest in addition to poetry!

Cheers
Shelley
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Maureen K Clifford
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Re: Chopin: Homework 7-5-18

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Thu May 03, 2018 4:58 pm

Love it when something comes in from left field - this is so different Wendy - wonderful use of the prompts and love the storyline - well done
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


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Catherine Lee
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Re: Chopin: Homework 7-5-18

Post by Catherine Lee » Thu May 03, 2018 5:43 pm

Yes indeed Wendy - this is a most original idea from the prompts and a great tribute to the genius of Chopin - really enjoyed this poem!

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Wendy Seddon
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Re: Chopin: Homework 7-5-18

Post by Wendy Seddon » Thu May 03, 2018 7:23 pm

Thanks for your kind comments folks.

I don't play piano Shelley, although I learnt as a child.
My favourite thing in music at school was score reading.....
Fascinated how the composers used the tools
of writing music, layering many staves, to create masterpieces.
Chopin indeed a favourite composer but I can get lost in Bach's scores

Maureen and Catherine,
My ambition (and challenge) is always to go left field!
Feel challenged?
Wen de Rhymewriter There is nothing mundane about the ordinary.

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