Robert Gale Ongley

Author: Bo

  • ADVENTURES IN MUSICAL COMPOSITION

    I Ching Coins

    While researching an article recently on the subject of musical composition, I came across a term that was completely new to me. It was “aleatoric composition.” It has to do with the use of the element of chance in the creation of music. Choices on notes, rests, rhythms and other parts of the music are left to such unpredictable processes as card play, rolling of the dice or even I Ching. While this may sound unprofessional in its approach, I admit it fascinates me from the perspective of turning over the creative process to a power greater than myself and letting it fly.

    Notable Aleatoric Composers

    John Cage

    John Cage was an American avant-garde composer for most of the 20th Century. One of his most famous recordings, which I’d never heard until putting together this post, was called Fontana Mix. It features a female singer who periodically contributes seemingly unrelated segments of songs and spoken material ranging from jazz to opera, from acted statements in different languages to random sounds. Throughout the vocal performance, there are varied chaotic electronic sounds. These are all represented on a series of transparent cards that Cage superimposed. When seen as a stack, they form a graph and an order in which they would be recorded or played. He did that in 1958, obviously unique for the time and anytime since. It did bring remind me, however, of the John Lennon inspired Revolution 9 from 1968.

    Karlheinz Stockhausen was a German composer born in 1928. He was considered by many critics as one of the most important composers of the 20th century, but also as one of the most controversial. His music was largely classical, but was outside traditional forms. An example of aleatoric work on his part was Klavierstucke (Piano Pieces). The 11th of these introduced a random element that earlier ones only hinted at, specifically by giving the pianist 19 separate sections of music to play. Following is a good description of how the piece is played from “Stockhausen: Sounds in Space.”

     “From a pianist’s point of view, it may be more apt to use an “autumn leaves” analogy.  Here, 19 musical “leaves” are spread in front of the player.  He picks one up, “plays” it, returns it to the pile, and then picks up another to play (however, the way he plays this new leaf is affected by what he saw in the previous leaf).  Sometimes he will pick up one that he’s chosen before, but he plays it anyway.  However, if he realizes that he’s picked up the same leaf 3 times already, he stops, and the performance is over.  In Piano Piece 11, each leaf is a few measures of score, and at the end of each score fragment is the indication of how to approach the next chosen musical fragment (in the terms of tempo, dynamic, and articulation).  Instead of a “pile of leaves”, all of these musical fragments are scattered over a huge sheet of paper, and the pianist chooses the phrases randomly.  He stops after he has hit the same fragment a 3rd time.”

    Chance Composition

    This is another term for aleatoric composition. It goes back to the early 1800’s when songwriters or composers would use dice and determine a series of notes by rolls of the dice. For instance, a “1” could be designated as a “C.” A “D” could be assigned by rolling a “2.” You can use the dice for more than pitch. They could determine the length of notes, rhythms and more. It is speculated that Mozart even used this as a game. It can be great fun to see where it leads you.

    Aleatoric Grooves

    Experimental music can be difficult to enjoy with its lack of predictability, its potentially herky-jerky rhythms and its discordant sounds. It does have value, though, in its capacity for stretching our musical imagination either as composer or listener. Appreciation of its expression involves hearing with a new ear and not judging it by worn out standards.

    In popular music, some have dared to make sounds that go against the industry dictates based on past commercial success. Ragtime, rock ‘n roll, jazz and rap have all turned popular music on its ear by creating something new. These can have wide appeal even though they were originally experimental.

    I can name a few cases where musicians have taken music in a daring new direction and it caught on with a lot of very pleased fans. The obvious choice in the 1960s was the Beatles. Radiohead has been highly innovative while keeping the aesthetics intact. Bela Fleck has transformed the banjo into a jazz instrument light years ahead of its Dixieland applications.

    If you’re composing music, be willing to step outside comfortable boundaries. Let your creative juices flow. You may find yourself exploring new territory you never knew existed.

    Fantasia Fantasie

  • TEN WAYS TO A SIMPLE LIFE IN THE ARTS

    In a life full of distractions, the creator of would-be artistic masterpieces needs the way cleared of pitfalls and obstructions that would render their efforts fruitless. When seeking greater simplicity, the simple sage doesn’t let complex logic get in the way. Stripping ideas down to the basics means going straight to the point. Any point might do.

    Truly dedicated visionary artisans do not concern themselves with matters of practicality. The art form comes first. They will not approach their calling as though it were just some job. An uncompromising, steely glare must accompany the search for truth. Just because the tenets of a particular way of life do not conform with the mainstream ideas does not mean they are right for the artiste. So, cast aside reason and consider these gems from a twinkling of the eye.

    Be Born Poor

    Although it may appear so, this is not merely a case of “you either have it or you don’t.” You can find your way to poverty in the span of one life where you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth. If you are not that inept or if you simply don’t have the time to mount the volume of losses to squander an entire fortune, there is another alternative. You can simulate being poor. Become a minimalist.

    Be Single

    Relationships make life far too complicated. You need all the “me” time you can get to turn out fabulous aesthetic works. The greatest value of a sexual partner is the loss of one. The broken heart can lead to all manner of interesting songs, films, paintings, dance and glass blowing. In the long run, though, it’s best to stay free of ties that bind except those devoid of emotion. I suggest having a fish, maybe two, in a simple fish bowl. This allows you to observe a relationship without having to clean an aquarium.

    Declare Yourself What You Want to Be

    This is easy. Just do it. It’s even therapeutic. No matter where you are or who you are, you can start immediately down your path of an angst-ridden artistic life. It feels really good.

    Spend All Your Off Time Observing

    When the old master or mistress is not creating, they are inclined by their nature to be observing. This is how they recharge their wellspring of imagination. One word of caution. Observe real life, not life-sucking television, which tends to make the artist imitate art.

    Be Interested in Everything, Involved in Nothing

    This could easily be criticized. Some may say it’s taking a godlike approach, but that’s not my take. I say it’s the way of the narrator, the all-knowing narrator as in fiction. Always viewing the world as an observer allows us to paint it objectively and develop it without attachment. Attachment may be the root of all evil, for it is here that we rob Truth to pay a borrowed Reality.

    Work on Your Art All Day, Every Day

    This is the apex of keeping it simple. There’s nothing better to do anyway, and you will mostly be in a supremely happy place even if your body is wasting away to nothing. At least you’re flourishing unlike you would be if you were watching YouTube videos.

    Don’t Believe in Writer’s Block or Any Kind of Block

    My theory is that writer’s block is just something made up by malcontents that don’t actually like writing. Just write anything for God’s sake until the notion passes. I’ve never heard of editor’s block. They just keep editing and that goes for the creatively-inclined of all persuasions.

    Make No Rules That Complicate Life

    I’m not leading by example on this one. I’ve made many rules to restrict and complicate my life. I also may be getting worse in this regard. Here are some things from my repertoire to avoid. Not that they’re wrong. They just aren’t simple. 1) Never end a sentence in a preposition. 2) Be 100 percent ethical. 3) Hold a smile until no one is looking and phase it out gradually.

    Study Your Medium and Learn it Well

    This is not a contradiction of what I just said. The crafty old pitcher will take the talented young phenom hitter to school until the kid figures out how to hit a good curveball. Designer John Maeda said it first in his book, The Laws of Simplicity: “ Learn. Knowledge makes everything simpler.”

    Throw Away All Your Devices

    And get off the grid while you’re at it. Find a cabin in the woods or a private room where you won’t be interrupted. All right, don’t panic. At least put all weapons of mass distraction somewhere that they can’t be found or they can’t find you.

    There’s art to be made. Enrich it all you want, but keep the process simple.


  • THE ART OF DYING…WITH DIGNITY

    I wrote a piece on this subject several months ago and had no intention of revisiting it. It’s just that a stroke victim who I’ve been deeply invested in for about four years has died recently. She did it with dignity and against all odds. It’s she and others like her that this post honors.

    The Story of Sandra Russell

    If memory serves me correctly, it was in January of 2015 that Sandy had a severe stroke that occurred in her brain stem. It affected both sides of the body. Her abilities to breathe and to swallow were compromised and she was bedridden.

    In the early stages, rehabilitation looked to be a possibility. She could stand when assisted and she seemed to be able to follow directions. Unfortunately, she and her husband Ed, my nephew, had no health or life insurance. He was able to enroll her in the Pennsylvania program for Medicaid to cover her hospital bills and ongoing care. Eventually, she relocated to Crawford County Care Center near his home.

    She couldn’t be with her family, most importantly with their three sons for whom she was a stay-at-home mom. Two of the boys are autistic and had special needs she provided. Her absence created a huge hole in the lives of these adolescents and their dad.

    Her progress in rehab didn’t meet the Medicaid standards to justify continuing the program to bring her physical abilities back to some semblance of normal. She and her recovery always occupied my prayers. I felt an independent therapist should provide another opinion. I tried to get her medical records so she could have another assessment done in the hopes I could obtain enough donations to give her a fighting chance at rehab or even some alternative medical procedure that showed promise for stroke victims.

    I hit a dead end. I couldn’t obtain the records, so Sandy spent these last years in bed with these intrusive tubes down her throat and in her abdomen. There were hints that she knew what was going on around her, but the body seemed to be beyond control. Then, late last year, she managed to use her useless arms or hands to rip out her trach tube. She was rushed to a hospital Emergency Room. A doctor there told her husband that he saw no reason why she should have a trach tube because she was breathing well and was getting plenty of oxygen on her own. She was freed of this unnecessary intrusion on her freedom to speak. And speak she did, with great effort at first, but she became better and better. She could tell her family that she loved them.

    As Christmas approached, she found a way to remove her feeding tube. She made a point to tell the nursing home medical staff she didn’t want it reinserted. They tested her cognitive abilities to see if she was able to make her own choices about her treatment. She scored high. They explained that her body wouldn’t survive if she had the tube removed. Since she couldn’t swallow, the tube was her means of receiving nutrition. She said she didn’t want to live that way and she wanted them to let her go. Husband Ed discussed it with her and she repeated her wishes. Within a few days, she was gone. Her suffering had come to an end.

    This was no easy feat, but Sandy had exercised control with a body that clearly had very little of it. Despite her own doctor’s orders that the trach tube remain in her throat, she demonstrated how she could do without it and could even talk! She rid herself of the feeding tube that for her was a tether to a life of frustration and misery. With great courage, she faced down death and took that next step with dignity. Ed and their sons last visited her on Christmas Day. She passed early the next morning.

    Final Thoughts

    Medical advancements and technology have improved our longevity with a greater quality of life for most of us, but it can be a cross to bear for those who find themselves in treatment that is worse than the malady they’re trying to overcome. The ending to the story of their lives can be one of humiliation, suffering and bodily decay that they would rather be spared and which they would rather spare the people they love. I believe those who choose to bring an end to these desperate attempts to hold onto a body that is no longer functional have experienced a shift in their understanding. They realize their bodies are not as important as they seem and they know a peace that goes beyond the gross matter and makeup of a physical body. This may just be the art of dying.

    Sandy’s funeral expenses had to come out of Ed’s pocket. He made a down payment on them out of his limited funds. He had to borrow from his mortgage and utility money. He spent almost all of his tax refund to pay the mortuary. He still owes $3900 to the funeral director and is about $2400 behind on his bills due to these expenses. I have started a Go Fund Me campaign to help him recover. If you can and are willing to make a donation to his cause, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/in-the-wake-of-a-stroke. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

  • TAKING OURSELVES LIGHTLY

    Self-deprecating humor is one of the most disarming forms of communication. It charms when done without sacrificing self-respect. Those using it benefit psychologically as they let go of suffocating ego.

    Self-deprecating Legends

    It’s curious to think of people who poke fun at themselves as legends. I’m referring to people who are widely admired that don’t mind exposing themselves to some good-natured ridicule at times. In a world where performance and image are subject to such scrutiny, it is increasingly difficult to lower the defenses and show a weaker or more vulnerable side.

    The first person who comes to mind is Garrison Keillor, the author and brilliant humorist who created and hosted Prairie Home Companion for so many years. Not known for his good looks, he sometimes took some light swipes at his appearance. In one interview, he was asked about playing himself in the film version of his iconic radio show. He said, “It’s difficult to watch yourself…well, you can see why!”

    Will Rogers was a master at portraying himself in a humble light. His homespun wisdom was doled out during his stage appearances in which he often aimed his humor inward. “I read about eight newspapers in a day. When I’m in a town with only one newspaper, I read it eight times.”
    Or, “All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that’s an alibi for my ignorance.” And, “I’m not a real movie star. I’ve still got the same wife I started out with twenty-eight years ago.”

    One of the best contemporary examples of a self-deprecating humorist is Tina Fey. She was once invited to the American Museum of Natural History as the host for a gala event. Her opening remarks were classic Tina Fey and were representative of how lightly she takes herself. “I’m here tonight not just as a New Yorker and a West Sider who loves this institution, but also as a new trustee of the museum. I was very honored. Which means that I am allowed to go into any diorama that I want. Last night I slept between two Lenape warriors. This morning, I came over to the museum.”

    When we get swept away by our emotions because things don’t go our way or when we feel offended by a comment from another person, we sacrifice our happiness to a degree. We aren’t perfect and we each have a lot to learn. Let us take a moment and take a cue from those who can acknowledge their own foibles with a sparkle in the eye.

    Beyond Humor

    Humor is not the only way of taking ourselves lightly. Those who consider their lives super-important and deadly serious may not be able to enjoy the small things or what is happening in the moment. Attitude is a key ingredient in changing our self-image. On www.speakingtree.in, there’s a helpful blog post that says in part, “It is widely understood that the state of a person’s mind depends upon his attitude to people and objects present and to the events occurring around him. There is also a well-known saying: ‘you cannot change events, but you can change your attitude towards them.’ Yet when actual situations arise, attitudinal change is difficult because of the mindset already formed.

    “Attitude is determined by pride and prejudices, desires and ambitions, priorities and preferences, needs and compulsions. These, in turn, are influenced by habits and addictions, learning’s and dependencies, beliefs and outlook, whims and fancies and a host of other factors. Pre-dispositions thus formed produce certain mental pulls and pushes which determine responses and reactions to external situations. That’s why attitudes towards the same event vary from person to person. New paradigms are called for to break the old mindsets and create inner capabilities that can automatically take care of anything that comes your way.”

    Loving yourself, being gentle and forgiving yourself are parts of the attitude shift that can help you handle whatever life throws in your path. Practicing them every day can bring you peace in times of stress or hardship.

    Summing it Up

    Betty White, another entertainer who freely targets herself in her self-deprecating humor, sums it up well. “It’s your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don’t take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver.”

    This life is a blessing, not a curse. There’s so much irony, so much opportunity for learning and so much potential for fun in everyday living. There’s a great saying by G.K. Chesterton we should remember anytime we bog down in ourselves. “Angels can fly because they can take themselves lightly.”



  • ARE THE SELF-ABSORBED MENTALLY ILL?

    I was in our memoir discussion group recently and a friend made a statement that was food for thought later. He said something like, “All of us are a little bit insane. I’ve learned that if we get outside ourselves and start doing for others, we start becoming saner.”

    I had never really looked at the relative problem of insanity in that light before. I do agree that we’re all at least a bit crazy. Our social veneer is our way of hiding it and it works pretty well with those who don’t live with us. Let’s examine the issue and see what we find.

    Who Are You Calling Self-Absorbed?

    Well, look around. If you live in the United States, you have goals, you love your stuff and you hardly think about what you can do for others, you may be self-absorbed. I would say that many of us who are really wrapped up in the arts have a tendency to be self-absorbed. How many people do you know who are true givers? Do you recognize those who volunteer freely and generously? They’re like saints walking among us.

    Who Are You Calling Crazy?

    While I do see that most of us exhibit traits outside the realm of rationality, I’m arbitrarily reserving this word “crazy” for mental states that inhibit the ability to be productive and generally happy. Stifling ourselves from being able to carry out the duties of a job or to create without restraint or to just stay out of the trappings of depression would be a few examples of mental illness.

    More on how mental illness coincides with being self-absorbed is found on the website known as Learning Mind.

    “When being self-absorbed, the care of others’ feelings seems to fade into the background. Unfortunately, self-absorbed people don’t make the best of friends, and they tend to spend way too much time being concerned about themselves and even having grandiose thoughts of their special status. It’s like confidence on steroids, I would assume, or something of that nature. Self-absorption can be seen in serious character flaws and even illnesses too.

    Psychological dysfunctions, such as bipolar disorder, PTSD and even addictions, have displayed traits of selfishness and self-absorption. Those who suffer from Borderline Personality disorder also display self-absorbed tendencies.

    In this case, BPD patients have issues with understanding the truth of their environment causing the inability to successfully draw conclusions of others. And of course, we cannot deny the presence of being self-absorbed when dealing with narcissism. In fact, being self-absorbed is the major characteristic of the narcissistic personality.”

    Shifting Toward Altruism

    I believe it would be safe to assume that acting in such a way as to help others rather than acting only in self-interest is the saner life choice. It represents the greater good, so it makes more sense than working for the lesser good. This would be an indication of expanding sanity.

    I confess to having lived too selfish a life to this point. I’ve learned to be less so over the years, though I have a good distance to go to reach sainthood. Nonetheless, I am actually excited by the concept of altruism. I have long aimed to live my life as under such a banner. Merriam-Webster defines an altruist as follows: “an unselfish person whose actions show concern for the welfare of others.”

    How would altruism affect the life of the person practicing it? Consider this quote from a Wikipedia article on the subject of altruism. “Altruism is the principle and moral practice of concern for happiness of other human beings and/or animals, resulting in a quality of life both material and spiritual.”

    So, how do we get there. Here are a few ideas that may help.

    The American Psychological Association published an article titled Awe May Promote Altruistic Behavior in 2015. Quoting an excerpt, “Our investigation indicates that awe, although often fleeting and hard to describe, serves a vital social function. By diminishing the emphasis on the individual self, awe may encourage people to forgo strict self-interest to improve the welfare of others,” said Paul Piff, PhD, assistant professor of psychology and social behavior at the University of California, Irvine. He was lead author of the study, which was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology®.

    From Buddhist author Matthieu Ricard’s website comes these words. “How can we bring about a shift towards a more altruistic, compassionate culture? First of all we need to recognize the importance of altruism. We then need to cultivate it at an individual level and, from there, bring about cultural changes. Cultures and individuals mutually shape each other, just as two knife blades can be used to sharpen the other.”

    It’s basically about love. Directing more love outward to others rather than inward raises our awareness and mental balance. Make it so.

  • TEN ELEMENTS OF A POWERFUL MEMOIR

    Do you want to write a memoir, but don’t know where to start? Well, you’re not alone. Many people have a story to tell, but don’t know how to go about it. As a member and facilitator of a memoir writing group for a few years now, I’ve learned a lot about the basics of the genre and have gathered a good deal of information on what makes a high-quality memoir.

    Know Your Guidelines

    A memoir is not an autobiography. Its scope is usually a period of the writer’s life or covers a theme of particular significance. For example, “My Trip to Hell and Back” could cover a soldier’s part in a war operation that landed them in a world of hurt. A memoir theme for that same person may be titled, “Undercover–A Way of Life.”

    Another key ingredient of a memoir is truth. You can’t make it up. Not that every detail is guaranteed to be true, but you need to do your best to make it so.

    Structure it First

    There are writers who feel they must just start writing and not worry about where it’s going. I’ve heard them say an outline stifles their creativity. Conventional thinking is that you need to know where you’re going to be efficient in getting there. Doing an outline, noting your turning points along the way, helps prevent dead ends and pointless meanderings. Structuring your story at the beginning gives you a chance to organize your thinking and therefore be as comprehensible as possible.

    Research All You Can

    In the interest of providing the truth in your memoir, it would be advisable to not count on your memory alone. Facts fade over time and somehow new versions are provided by the brain. Research can be done by consulting journals, letters, newspaper clippings, other forms of documentation and other people when the facts aren’t available from any other source. Parents or other family members can be great when it comes to filling in the blanks for times when you weren’t around or old enough to remember.

    Lay It All Down

    Once you know how your memoir is going to be set up and you have your information together, you can concentrate on writing. It would be best to work on it every day until it’s done, but the most important thing is to write, write, write. Get your story on paper, not obsessing about form or details. You can edit later. Take pleasure in downloading this data from your mind to your document, especially if there’s a lot of emotion involved. It’s so therapeutic to let it go.

    It Doesn’t Have to Be All About You

    We tend to be wrapped up in our own lives, but I find it noble and appealing to tell the story of another person in your life. I can’t claim to have done it myself yet, but I hope to at some point. Honoring a deserving individual is a fine way of celebrating their legacy to humanity.

    Make It Read Like a Novel

    As a life unfolds or as a theme develops, there are twists and turns, comedy and drama, victories and losses. Lives lived without fanfare or in quiet desperation can be tapped as any award winning novel could be drafted. When structuring your memoir, be mindful of presenting it in an order that best tells the story for dramatic effect.

    Write in the First Person

    Telling the story from your viewpoint is straightforward and easily understood. I’ve heard writers toying with the idea of using the third person to write their memoir. While I can appreciate the artistic slant on this, I would find it potentially confusing and generally unnecessary.

    Be Yourself

    I think it would be safe to say you would be best served to write your memoir without trying to be someone else. Write as you speak, for the most part. Don’t play a role that doesn’t suit you. Just try to be natural and you will come across in the best possible light.

    Use Lots of Dialogue

    Dialogue brings life to a story. Endless narrative breeds boredom. We don’t want to be bored. “Don’t jump, my precious reader!” “Don’t try to stop me. I can’t take anymore narrative!”

    Keeping in mind our intention to adhere to the truth, we need to include conversations in our memoir. No one expects us to recall word for word quotes, but we can write these verbal exchanges according to our recollections and not violate the essential truth. Dialogue is vital. It’s fun when you become comfortable with it.

    Out With Your /Feelings

    Just giving the facts without letting the reader into your heart and mind can leave your manuscript cold. Relate important events of your life in your memoir, being sure to include how they affected you. The deeper, the better. If you’re not the type of person to do so, this is your chance to practice in the privacy of your writing space. You may find you evolve and purge yourself of some heavy baggage. And your writing will be more accessible.

    Writing a memoir is a golden opportunity to examine your life in a unique and effective way. Here’s to an illuminating experience!

  • FINDING YOUR TRUE VOICE

    Expressing yourself through any artistic medium can be most effectively done when you are being genuine and true to the spirit that moves you. Following a formula may produce a salable piece of art, but I doubt that it means much to anyone. Expression of a meaningful message should come from the real you, not just a manufactured image or the “should be” person.

    Voices Across the Arts

    When I use the term voice, I first think of that persona that comes through when writing. Of course, there are other uses of the term in the arts, the most obvious being an actual voice, as in singing. Finding the style of singing that best suits your vocal timbre is vital to success.

    But, hey, there’s voice involved in cinematography, in painting, and pantomime for that matter. Steven Spielberg’s voice comes through loud and clear through his films. Van Gogh spoke through his work, probably better than he could with speech. And who could think Marcel Marceau didn’t communicate to us through his silent voice?

    What a Writer’s Coach Has to Say

    In his acclaimed book, A Writer’s Coach, An Editor’s Guide to Words That Work, Jack Hart writes an interesting chapter on voice. He lists five ways to develop your voice. I quote here the headings for each way and paraphrase the content of each paragraph.

    1. Write the way you talk. He’s telling us not to try sounding like a writer when we write. Be yourself. Your writing will come across as more natural that way.
    2. Execute the worst offenders. Mr. Hart doesn’t care for pomposity, so he suggests finding the three stuffiest words you’ve written and execute them. Remove them and don’t use them again unless they are justified.
    3. Think small. By small he means precise. We should not muddy the waters when we’re trying to convey an idea clearly. He gives the example of calling a Dachshund a canine. Choose your words to give the reader concrete images rather than some fancy string of words that don’t really say anything.
    4. Start with the subject. Hart wants sentences to state who’s doing what to whom. For the sake of scoring points stylistically, writers may fall into the trap of structuring sentences with long phrases at the beginning and making the reader wait for the real action.
    5. Let ‘er rip. In your first draft, get the words on paper without worrying about how it sounds. He says you should be loose, fast, and accepting. Don’t worry about cliches. You can find fresh, creative ways of saying what you have to say when you come back for revision.

    How I See It

    Hart’s ideas on this are totally valid as far as they go. I mean no disrespect. He is far more accomplished as a writer and editor than I am. Most importantly, I take from his chapter on voice that we need to use our words in our most straightforward form with no pretense that could cloud our message with unnecessary complexity. Just say it. Readers will appreciate it.

    Still, I sense there is more to it. When we write a sentence or sing a melody or draw an image, we want it to make a strong impression. We want it to make an impact. Creative writing suggests being innovative. It isn’t reporting. Our voice can be genuine and ingenious simultaneously. It strikes me that Kurt Vonnegut was such an author. Bobby McFerrin fits into this category as a singer. Following Hart’s guidelines is advisable. Listening to your own heart is crucial.

    One other point I want to make–I believe you could have more than one voice. I find I can write an article in an informational style, do fiction in a whimsical style or write a script of imaginative comedy. They all feel like different aspects of my true self. Woody Allen comes to mind. From Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, But Were Afraid to Ask to Interiors was such a range it was hard to believe these films both came from the mind of the same person.

    Voice of Wisdom

    English writer Neil Gaiman tells us, “The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.”

    Look within with sincerity, honesty and intensity. Your voice will be revealed. But follow those practical rules of thumb from a coach who knows how to write like a professional.


  • HOPE IN TIMES OF DESPAIR

    I attended a church service yesterday that inspired this post. Jordinn Nelson Long conducted the service as a guest minister this week and it had to do with hope, which I find to be an excellent topic as we head into the new year known as 2019. She gave us statistics, as a small part of the message, that would help us see there is reason for hope. She shared stories, poetry and images which were so uplifting, even exciting. So, I’m going to follow the model with different content.

    In spite of the political arena, where observers on both sides of the issues find reasons for despair, there are many positives to encourage us as we start another year around the sun. Wal Van Lierop, a venture capitalist whose career has focused on “sourcing, investing in and helping to commercialize breakthrough innovations for energy intensive industries” writes for Forbes that cleantech investors such as himself have good reason to be optimistic about the future of the planet and humanity. He cites gains in clean energy technology and increased financial commitment around the world by private companies and governments to making these a practical reality. Also, he says 60% to 75% of students at top engineering schools are showing interest in getting involved with startups instead of giving their services to Silicon Valley businesses so dedicated to consumer apps. Venture capitalists are investing in those types of students and “increase the odds of funding meaningful projects in industrial innovation and cleantech.”

    The polarization of our country is truly disturbing to me. The right, the left…the religious zealots, the non-believers…the young, the old…the upper class, the lower class…the corporations, the workers…on and on it goes. Our civilization could unravel if we don’t start finding common ground. It’s not just the commercial media that stirs the pot, though they may have been the culprits to get the pot boiling in the first place. The anger and hate have spread to the breeding ground called social media. Facebook and Twitter are the greatest examples. There’s a lot of love exchanged on them, but far too much outrage over others’ opinions. But, as Jonathan Rauch wrote in an latimes.com op-ed piece last week, signs of change for the better are coming to view. He is a member of Better Angels, where he sits on the board. It’s a national organization which is fostering unity among our divided citizens.

    Rauch writes that Better Angels is “a national grassroots movement to depolarize the country, one community at a time. Committed conservatives and progressives — Donald Trump Republicans and Hillary Clinton Democrats — meet in structured workshops, not to change one another’s minds but to relearn how to communicate and connect as fellow citizens. After only a few hours, participants emerge able to see the humanity and positive intentions on the other side. Those angry partisans often become neighbors and friends.”

    He goes on to describe how the concept they’re promoting is spreading across the country. Groups have popped up in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Almost 300 people have been trained to be moderators and they are able to train others. They’re doing this as it needs to be done, from a grassroots level. Rauch observes astutely, “Each new workshop not only plants seeds of local bipartisanship, but also broadcasts the empowering message that ordinary people can take action against our would-be dividers.” He mentions other similar groups, so I want to make sure their names are seen as well. They are Bridge the Divide and Living Room Conversations. Let us reach out to those who are doing the vital work of bringing us together. Perhaps the most encouraging development is the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group in Congress that is promoting an honest intention to work together for the common good.

    By many measures, the world and the people in it are improving. Crime rates are very low at this time. According to the Huffington Post, we are in the most peaceful time in world history. Wars are less frequent, less devastating and less violent. Teen pregnancy rates are way down. Poverty rates are still too high, but trending downward over the last 11 years. High school dropout rates are down to 6.1 percent, much better than 10.9 percent in 2000. The worldwide life expectancy rate in 1900 was 31 years. In 2014, it was 71.5.

    There are many who are suffering and struggling mightily in this world. Even those who have all the advantages may be in depression, but I hope to have shown conditions can change. We can lend a hand to those who need it. We can live in gratitude and be the change we want to see in ourselves (a nod to Gandhi there). And we can spark the unity we need to have going forward in this country and across the world.

  • REFLECTIONS ON HOLIDAY SEASON ART

    The predominance of Christian influence on the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day in the United States leads me to call this the holiday season, as though there is no other time of the year that warrants this title. I’m sure a few other religions would take exception. I don’t mean to offend anyone. I acknowledge these faiths have their own seasons of celebration and reverence that are as valid to them as Christmas is to American Christians. The focus of this article is how this particular series of holidays has its own artistic expression that ranges from deeply sentimental, full of meaning, to irreverent pokes at traditions and family.

    FAMILIAR SOURCES

    I’m certain most of us could use a lot less of the commercialized side of Christmas. It’s just obscene that business and shopping have become so important that stores are open on Thanksgiving to get a jump on Black Friday, the aptly named dark day when customers have been known to stampede each other to get their hands on marked-down objects in planned short supply. Interestingly, though, some of the most memorable and touching visual art involves well-known products or scenes of opulence for kids supposedly experiencing the “magic” of Christmas. I’m hearkening back to my own youth when I saw painted prints of my quintessential Santa Claus having a Coca-Cola in a living room that could have been mine. Another familiar image would be that of the child playing with a new Lionel train set on the floor amidst the family, the tree and lots of other opened presents.

    Christmas parades are a show of beautifully assembled lights in a lot of cases, but commercial art is in the forefront in some. Disney’s cartoon characters make appearances at least at Disneyland or Disney World. The Thanksgiving Day Parade sponsored by Macy’s is spectacular with the floats and the stylistically impressive balloons that pitch Spongebob Squarepants, Spider Man and a host of others. The guest of honor is, of course, Santa. He’s a work of art in himself.

    HEARTH AND HOME

    The holidays inspire a number of artistic images to lift our spirits through the short days and long nights. Snowy scenes of old cars parked in front of a house with lighted windows at twilight. An open sleigh dashing through the snow. Stockings hung by the chimney. This type of homespun art has been around for my entire life. It goes back much farther, as you might guess. I believe this striking illustration below is from the 1890s.

     

     

    Ancient art connected with Christmas is remarkable. Florentine painter Giotto created a cycle of frescoes between 1303 and 1305 that include a nativity scene. The nativity scene was understandably central to the theme of Christmas, judging from the number of ancient paintings that depict it. There were some notable deviations from the norm, however. Mystic Nativity by Sandro Botticelli in 1500 was bright and cheery in a scene with green grass, trees and many angels on the ground, on the roof of the stable and flying around in the air. One of my favorites is from 1566, done by Pieter Bruegel. It’s called The Census at Bethlehem. It shows a busy village scene with many visitors going to the building where they have to report.

    OTHER FORMS OF CHRISTMAS ART

    Music, whether just recorded or performed on the stage or on the screen, is fundamental to conveying the spirit of Christmas. Some of it is strictly devotional. These revered songs are not played that much in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The lighter fare, such as Jingle Bell Rock, Here Comes Santa Claus and Winter Wonderland are consumed easily without much thought. Come Christmas Eve, the big guns are brought out by those broadcasting the holiday music. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful provide the serious, reverent mood the devout would prefer. Quality music, substantial lyrics make up these songs.

    Surveying the landscape of holiday art has to include The Nutcracker Suite. Seeing this ballet is solid tradition and the music has become synonymous with Christmas music. Literature has made its contribution with The Christmas Carol. Films such as It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story show us the magic of the season in ways not directly associated with the story in the Bible.

    The arts are part of Christmas because they usually express the key aspects of it. Beyond the birth of Jesus are the messages he delivered about how he wants us to live…with love for others and in the joy of a giving spirit. May we keep these in our hearts and minds during the season and for the entire year.

     

  • GO WITH THE FLOW

     

    When it comes to the arts, I consider myself a writer first and foremost. I’m best as a writer, but I’m also an acceptable musician. I can sing pretty well and every now and then someone says I have a nice voice. I’ve composed over one-hundred songs, some of which have held up over the years. I tried at one point to get a record contract in Nashville, but I gave that up with some bitterness and headed in a much less artsy direction, eventually to a career in insurance claims. It wasn’t me, but I felt I was doing what I had to do. In this post, I want to share what has happened in my music life lately without much effort on my part.

    You have probably heard the term, “Go with the flow.” Its popularity was at its height decades ago, but it endures as a saying for those who realize it would be better to accept the momentum and direction of certain activities or general forces rather than resisting. It’s a philosophy about life with which I resonate. In my novel Boundless Trust, I draw on this philosophy a great deal. The main characters start trusting this natural flow that life follows and they explore where it takes them. Going with the flow isn’t necessarily easy, leading sometimes to its own set of problems, but I believe eventually order is restored for the greater good.

    It was two or three years ago when I began a little musical journey that has almost taken on a life of its own. A friend of mine bought a house across town from me and he created a music studio in his living room. He invited me, along with a number of his friends, to start playing music with him there on Tuesday afternoons. I accepted the invitation with a measure of hesitation, not really wanting to commit to a regular jam. I figured I should let it into my life. It was music, after all. Around the same time, my wife and I joined our church choir. It wasn’t long after that when we made an agreement to start having dinner with another couple every Friday evening, playing music afterward. This goes on for a couple hours on the average. All of these have continued to the present. I had already been playing at an open mic event with friends monthly for years. I play with a few of those folks on the side semi-regularly as well. I have recorded some of my songs with the group across town and another good friend I met at another church.

    I didn’t really want to get this busy with music, but something within kept telling me not to impede the flow of music in my life. I sensed that if I just allowed whatever musical activities coming my way to happen, it could lead to something interesting or even wonderful. I recently realized that I now play or sing with seven separate groups or individuals. Each has its own charm and style. They all contribute something to my life and I contribute to theirs.

    The group across town has really developed. From chaotic to organized. Even with as many as twelve of us playing simultaneously, we make some good music, downright magical at times. It’s turned into something very special. Also, over a year ago I invited another music friend to come play with this group on Tuesdays. He began attending, along with one of his band mates from their group Kindred Spirits. They area trio and make beautiful, original inspirational music that may fit into the category of folk rock, though I find genre categories inadequate in this and many cases.

    Because one member of Kindred Spirits travels a lot, they had a need for a replacement for him when he couldn’t make one of their gigs. I was asked to be that replacement as needed. I am honored to be playing with them now and some of my original material is being incorporated into the sets. Last weekend, we provided the music for Artists of the Southwest. Their art show went two days and we played for four hours each day. The venue was outside and we played facing the Catalina Mountains in clear, cool weather. The sound system was tremendous. The artists and the kind people attending were appreciative. It was perhaps the best time I’ve ever had making music. It would never have happened if I hadn’t said yes to music, over and over, opening myself to what may come. I will continue to do so and the future may hold even better moments.

    Go with the flow. Say yes to what is offered you, within the framework of your ethics and integrity. Adventures await.