Welcome back to Close Reads as we continue our discussion of James Runcie’s The Great Passion. Topics of conversation include the way Runcie introduces the book’s tragedies, how Bach teaches both the protagonist and the reader, how to tell the difference between true wisdom and pithy sayings in the story, and much more. Happy listening!
Sean's explanation of polyphony and point/counterpoint was fascinating. On the other hand, as I was reading chapter 15 tonight, I asked my husband (a saxophonist with a degree in music) what antiphony is. His reply: "Used in a sentence, it would be something like: 'Stephanie an' tiphony went to the mall.' " Helpful. Really helpful ...
I find much wisdom in Bach's words about grief as well though I must say that, for me, the story doesn't work as a great novel. The long monologues from characters create a plodding pace and even the passages I love sound like beautiful prose from a written reflection rather than actual dialogue. The world and the music are described, but the characters' stories and minimal development seem told rather than shown. It still is a great book - and the later parts about the rehearsing of the Passion are fantastic - but it reads too didactically, similar to the nonfiction or histories I give my children for their story-like format. He does show great craft in his prose, and in bringing the work of making music to life.
I've been considering this since, and after listening today to the next episode, I think that, yes, Runcie is telling us a story of time, place, and people which stands on its merits. But he is showing us something entirely different which he (and I) have found in the music and faith of Bach. Perhaps he is pointing us to something true but difficult to communicate except in a story of a life or, for Bach, in music.
Yes, this was a big issue for me. No one talks like that. I seem to be in the minority on this (and that's fine), but I thought this book was boring and stilted.
I felt the preoccupation with death was a true part of the world of Bach and was a more honest one than in our world today. Eleven of Bach's children did not survive childhood, and that was not uncommon around the world even until the 20th century. But Bach and the German people now had the Scriptures in their own language and knew in whom to rest their faith just as all Christians do still. The words of this hymn, which Bach did not write but used and harmonized, reflect his piety. https://lyricstranslate.com/en/komm-susser-tod-come-sweet-death.html
Is anyone else feeling a kind of-- I'm not sure what the right word is... I guess resistance is the closest I can get--feeling a kind of resistance to listening to Bach while they read?
Listening to Sean and Heidi and David exhorting me to listen and seeing the links and chatter in the group, I still find myself still reluctant to just pop on some Bach. I'm not sure why.
I think maybe it's feeling a bit worried that I could get too caught up in trying to find the particular piece the book is talking about and looking up the words and trying to hear exactly what the book is describing... I could get very caught up in a very time consuming series of rabbit trails that I don't have time and attention for right now. Maybe if it was summer and the days were long and lazy I might be more tempted? But I don't want to trigger the part of my brain that gets obsessive.
And it's not like I don't know or like Bach. I remember listening to the Brandenburg Concertos nonstop in the hospital after my second child was born. And I'm a huge fan of Yo-Yo Ma's. And I've even listened to St Matthew Passion before. It's a great piece to listen to while baking hot cross buns for Good Friday.
But it feels more like something to do on my second read through of the novel when I already know the plot and can focus more on how the music adds another layer to the story.
I was the same way! Finished reading the story so I could just be immersed in the rehearsals and then began looking up specific arias and songs. :) I knew if I tried listening at the same time I was reading, I would switch into "music analytics" mode, lol.
I completely agree with you. I finished the book today and finally pressed play on Bach. I also am unsure as to why I felt it would detract unless I was finished with the book. Much of what you mentioned resonates with me, but I would also add I felt like I wanted to feel and "hear" the music through just the reading this time around. This book was breathtaking and I absolutely adored it.
Yes. To feel and hear the music just through the book itself. To let the book itself be enough-- the first time through at least. That is something of what I've been feeling.
Bach's line: "We listen to music as survivors." That's everything to me.
Sean's explanation of polyphony and point/counterpoint was fascinating. On the other hand, as I was reading chapter 15 tonight, I asked my husband (a saxophonist with a degree in music) what antiphony is. His reply: "Used in a sentence, it would be something like: 'Stephanie an' tiphony went to the mall.' " Helpful. Really helpful ...
I find much wisdom in Bach's words about grief as well though I must say that, for me, the story doesn't work as a great novel. The long monologues from characters create a plodding pace and even the passages I love sound like beautiful prose from a written reflection rather than actual dialogue. The world and the music are described, but the characters' stories and minimal development seem told rather than shown. It still is a great book - and the later parts about the rehearsing of the Passion are fantastic - but it reads too didactically, similar to the nonfiction or histories I give my children for their story-like format. He does show great craft in his prose, and in bringing the work of making music to life.
I've been considering this since, and after listening today to the next episode, I think that, yes, Runcie is telling us a story of time, place, and people which stands on its merits. But he is showing us something entirely different which he (and I) have found in the music and faith of Bach. Perhaps he is pointing us to something true but difficult to communicate except in a story of a life or, for Bach, in music.
Yes, this was a big issue for me. No one talks like that. I seem to be in the minority on this (and that's fine), but I thought this book was boring and stilted.
I felt the preoccupation with death was a true part of the world of Bach and was a more honest one than in our world today. Eleven of Bach's children did not survive childhood, and that was not uncommon around the world even until the 20th century. But Bach and the German people now had the Scriptures in their own language and knew in whom to rest their faith just as all Christians do still. The words of this hymn, which Bach did not write but used and harmonized, reflect his piety. https://lyricstranslate.com/en/komm-susser-tod-come-sweet-death.html
Is anyone else feeling a kind of-- I'm not sure what the right word is... I guess resistance is the closest I can get--feeling a kind of resistance to listening to Bach while they read?
Listening to Sean and Heidi and David exhorting me to listen and seeing the links and chatter in the group, I still find myself still reluctant to just pop on some Bach. I'm not sure why.
I think maybe it's feeling a bit worried that I could get too caught up in trying to find the particular piece the book is talking about and looking up the words and trying to hear exactly what the book is describing... I could get very caught up in a very time consuming series of rabbit trails that I don't have time and attention for right now. Maybe if it was summer and the days were long and lazy I might be more tempted? But I don't want to trigger the part of my brain that gets obsessive.
And it's not like I don't know or like Bach. I remember listening to the Brandenburg Concertos nonstop in the hospital after my second child was born. And I'm a huge fan of Yo-Yo Ma's. And I've even listened to St Matthew Passion before. It's a great piece to listen to while baking hot cross buns for Good Friday.
But it feels more like something to do on my second read through of the novel when I already know the plot and can focus more on how the music adds another layer to the story.
I was the same way! Finished reading the story so I could just be immersed in the rehearsals and then began looking up specific arias and songs. :) I knew if I tried listening at the same time I was reading, I would switch into "music analytics" mode, lol.
I completely agree with you. I finished the book today and finally pressed play on Bach. I also am unsure as to why I felt it would detract unless I was finished with the book. Much of what you mentioned resonates with me, but I would also add I felt like I wanted to feel and "hear" the music through just the reading this time around. This book was breathtaking and I absolutely adored it.
Yes. To feel and hear the music just through the book itself. To let the book itself be enough-- the first time through at least. That is something of what I've been feeling.