This was such a joy to read, thank you. When I was an academic I often looked for patterns in things as a way of making sense of them and I so enjoyed reading this in connection to other viewpoints and disciplines.
That's really interesting and thought-provoking, and the images throughout are wonderful.
I have a pattern of being attracted to things that disrupt sameness and consistency and provide a surprising deviation from expectations, especially sounds made by humans. I've always loved bursts of expression or passion by singers and players during songs. There are certain screams in heavy metal that I could listen to again and again.
But then I grew up in a household characterized by outbursts, so that seems not only normal but a necessary and even desirable part of the pattern of life for me. I would imagine someone who grew up in a very controlled environment might find such disruption alarming and gravitate towards music that is more repetitive, predictable, and calming. (This is the psychologist in me making sense of it!)
Thanks, Ellen. I, too, like disruption - sometimes! What you're describing there reminds me of what I was trying to get at in parts of an earlier post ('Sixteen Song Moments': https://songstudies.substack.com/p/sixteen-song-moments), where I was recalling moments that shot out of the pattern of a song's 'studium' to puncture me. Heavy metal screams are great, as are 'olé' moments in flamenco (perhaps not as disruptive as screams, but good as interjections).
Glad you liked the Arooj Aftab song. Her album is among my albums of the year.
This was such a joy to read, thank you. When I was an academic I often looked for patterns in things as a way of making sense of them and I so enjoyed reading this in connection to other viewpoints and disciplines.
Thank you, Alison.
What a fascinating piece! Very much enjoyed reading it.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Mike. Glad you liked it.
That's really interesting and thought-provoking, and the images throughout are wonderful.
I have a pattern of being attracted to things that disrupt sameness and consistency and provide a surprising deviation from expectations, especially sounds made by humans. I've always loved bursts of expression or passion by singers and players during songs. There are certain screams in heavy metal that I could listen to again and again.
But then I grew up in a household characterized by outbursts, so that seems not only normal but a necessary and even desirable part of the pattern of life for me. I would imagine someone who grew up in a very controlled environment might find such disruption alarming and gravitate towards music that is more repetitive, predictable, and calming. (This is the psychologist in me making sense of it!)
The Arooj Aftab piece was gorgeous.
Thanks, Ellen. I, too, like disruption - sometimes! What you're describing there reminds me of what I was trying to get at in parts of an earlier post ('Sixteen Song Moments': https://songstudies.substack.com/p/sixteen-song-moments), where I was recalling moments that shot out of the pattern of a song's 'studium' to puncture me. Heavy metal screams are great, as are 'olé' moments in flamenco (perhaps not as disruptive as screams, but good as interjections).
Glad you liked the Arooj Aftab song. Her album is among my albums of the year.
Seems I subscribed after that post, so I will enjoy reading it. Sounds right up my alley!
The Circle Game.