Fwd: GG -the quality of ecstasy

[Kate Clunies-Ross <katecluniesross@hotmail.com>]

> From: Megan Ken and Anne <smithqa@NEXICOM.NET>
> Reply-To: Megan Ken and Anne <smithqa@NEXICOM.NET>
> To: F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU
> Subject: GG -ecstasy
> Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 20:09:54 -0700
>
> Kate wrote:
> <snip>
> by 'ecstasy I mean the marvellous experience of standing
> >> 'outside' yourself and your normal everyday consciousness, which can be
> >> induced by emotion, art, love...you name it, whatever has the deepest
> >> importance to you. "Standing outside" is, I suppose, the original
> meaning
> >>of  the word ecstasy
ANNE WROTE
> My dictionary says:
> "deep emotion; especially rapturous joy."
>
> Whether you take my definition or yours,  this is probably part of the
> reason
> that GG decided to leave the concert stage.  Even Glenn Gould suffered from
> stage fright.  It is very hard (impossible) to get into the 'ecstasy' frame
> of mind when you are worried about your fingers or mind freezing in front
> of
> a thousand people. Much easier to obtain 'ecstasy'  when you can let just
> yourself go.  While
> recording your soul can
> soar while your fingers are doing their thing.  There is always
> "take two" to fall back on.
>
>
> Music allowed Glenn Gould to experience rapturous joy and also to step out
> of himself.  His recordings help us do the same.
>
> Anne Smith

Quite! And in addition it occurs to me that depression and tension could be
described as the exact opposite of 'ecstasy" ...they are states when you are
locked inside yourself, trapped without any ability to reach out to new
emotions, with no hope of touching the reality outside. Gould's music can
unlock the door of that prison. (Well, I think thats so, anyway). I believe
someone once wrote that he thought it the greatest complement if someone
considered his music to be 'therapeutic'. I'm not 100% certain what he meant
by this, but it certainly beats pills and potions!
Kate

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