Saturday, June 30, 2007

INSPIRATION

INSPIRATION.

The ancient Greeks believed the origins of "inspiration" flowed forth from the nine sisters, all daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the "goddess" of memory. These daughters seem to have inherited power and authority from their father, Zeus. The power to inspire mortals with creative ideas in the arts and the science, seems to have been coupled with the arousal and excitement of creativity, inspired perhaps by their mother.
We all know the emotional power of both nostalgic memories on one hand and the passionate or romantic stirrings which move the human heart when an “inspired” work of art "moves" us. Both nostalgia and passion seem to be inherited from Mnemosyne.
The Greek name for magnetized iron was Heraclitus, a word related to Hercules. The Socratic dialogue from Plato’s “Ion” uses this word in describing the “magnetizing” transfer of power that begins with the POET, who Plato equates with a PROPHET, or ORACLE. This “holy” forthteller touches (magnetizes) the ORATOR, who, like the modern day actor, public or motivational speaker, or singer, or solo instrumentalist, or entire rock band, for that matter, is able to “move” people. These are the people we spend a lot of money to go and see, even when it's overpriced tickets in oversized venues. It has always amazed me that people will fill arenas and stadiums to see their "celebrity", even when they are about the size of fleas from where they are seated in the audience. What a testimony to the power and influence of charisma.
Socrates questions Ion as to where he derives his “power”, this electricity that moves the people to tears when he performs (orates) the Iliad or the Odyssey of Homer. Ion confesses his relative ignorance of the subject matter of history or warfare. Yet he is able to enrapture his audience as if he is living out these experiences at that very moment.
Socrates enlightens Ion with the awareness of this “Hericlaten”, “magnetic” power which empowers him, speaks through him, spreading the “fragrance” (my word) of his theme throughout the room. This is as good an illustration of inspiration as I have ever come across.
When I was 17 (“it was a very good year”. I had to say that for some of you fellow old timers.) my 13 year old cocker spaniel that I had grown up (o.k., I'm serious, again.) with needed to be put to sleep. I went out after dinner, said a quick goodbye, in denial that Taffy probably wasn't going to come home from the vet. Instead, I proceeded to waste a few meaningless, miserable hours standing around outside a local diner, doing nothing, feeling guilty, with an emotionally constipated heart, full of grief and guilt feelings.
I wore my brave face as I returned home, entered the house, tried not to notice the empty bed, still coated in spots with Taffy’s blond dog hairs, soon to be vacuumed away forever. I proceeded downstairs, feeling compelled to sit at the upright piano, and proceeded to “spill out” a pretty sophisticated piece of original music, not rock, not classical, but coming from a place that I could only describe as "Leslie", a "Leslie place'.
No tears, No wailing… nothing on the outside. No. BUT…the music told the truth. Feelings poured out through this things we call "inspiration." It was like some kind of grace, “helping” me to grieve, to mourn Taffy’s loss. I felt a bit redeemed from my guilt.
And finally, there is one more link in Socrates’ "magnetic" chain: The AUDIENCE.
If we who are “experiencing” the “prophet’s” message are sending supportive “vibrations” to our artist, we empower him/her/them at the same moment we are being touched by their performance. Everyone who performs a lot, who has gotten over stage fright and nervousness, testifies to the energy exchange of love and appreciation from the audience which empowers the performer to give a more "powerful" performance. Isn't it interesting that we use that very word?
So…We, the audience, complete Socrates" “magnetized chain” that follows from Prophet (Poet) -> Orator -> Audience. There’s the sequence.
At American Logres Theatre we need you to come to us with DESIRE. We can’t help with that. But if you've got desire, then we CAN encourage you to allow the inspiration to move through you.” If the power of LOGRES meets you, you'll find you have a story to tell. It'll be real. It'll be yours. And we'll all be pretty enthused about it. Here's to Heraclitus!

Tomorrow’s Topic: “OH, I COULD NEVER DO THAT!”

Friday, June 29, 2007

OUT OF THE CLOSET...FINALLY!

I've often felt like a species of tree that takes forever to grow beyond some gangly, skinny, stork like branch out of the ground. But then, after decades and decades, turns out to be this formidable oak, or something like that. Is there any such tree. Can somebody please let me know?
Because that's been the story of my own life as a composer. There have been moments when a flash of inspiration, or motivation, or both? would move me and after 50 years of working as a musician, teacher, and director, I had a small, modest body of work to show for it.
My mother, God bless her, (truly! She nurtured that childlike wonder in me. Whatever's there is from her.) I always knew, without exception, that any musical accomplishment I had achieved, would be met with the penetrating question, "Did you perform your OWN music?"
My blood pressure would spike about, muscles tighten, and I would half sigh and half bark at the same time, any one of ten variations of "No, mom," followed by some expression of frustration.
Only four years after she was gone from Alzheimer's, Karen and I felt a "call" to relocate up to Vermont. And guess what happened. The floodgates opened, and I began creating an ongoing body of work, in addition to "midwiving" the work of my school children, as well as ALT.
I hope she knows in heaven that she was right. "My son, the composer" was destined to be part of the mix. She was just impatient. "Hey mom. It happened. And more than you thought. Plays. Songs. Words. Music. All of it. And all part of this bigger thing. American Logres Theatre."
I wish I could tell her.

I'd like to share with you two stories that felt like a "baptism" into that part of that "calling" mom would never let me forget.
The first one's funny. The second one's not. But they're both crucial.

Catalyst #1- In the summer of 2005 I enrolled in a music technology institute where I would be taught how to use the Sibelius software program, so that I might compose. As a deadline countdown for posting a new piece on my website drew near, I hadn’t even begun! I was still trying to learn the program. “Well, Leslie. You’ve GOT to do it! Posting must be complete before lunch break. Go!”
Well, all right! I desperately squeezed out what turned out to feel.....pretty good. "Inspirational flow” seemed to come, and within minutes the concept of a song cycle on the numbers 1 to 12 not only flashed in my mind, but the first song quickly unfolded, words, music, accompaniment. Voila!
Time to post. Made it! Just in time. Whew! During the last two days of the institute, the two and three number songs came together. It felt good. Real good.
Then a couple of days later, I woke up with this truly bizarre accompaniment motif “sequencing” through my mind. I rushed to get manuscript paper and a pencil, wrote it out precisely, then received another flash. Lyrics emerged: the number would be 13; Halloween would be the theme. The lyrics flowed out. The vocal melody followed. Within a half hour the song was complete. Gee! It sure did feel good. Real good.

Catalyst #2- 5 weeks later I was back in school, excited about picking up with four 5th grade students on a Mayflower Pilgrim musical theater project I had begun with them just before the summer break. I was soooo... excited about bringing them into that "creative zone." And where was their enthusiasm?.. GONE. “Mr. Klami, do we have to do this?” "We're too busy." "None of us want to do it." Gads, I felt pretty hurt. I don't mean disappointed. I mean "smartin'."
Now what was I going to do? Abort the whole project? Just let it die? A surge of something, determination, anyone ever heard of "moxie"? A "vision" arose in me, blazing forth with, “Abort? No! Develop the project, Do it yourself. The whole project. The story. The play script. The song lyrics. The music. The whole darn thing! YOU do it.” My response, '(gulp) Well, yeah, ok.... I will.”
And so for the next several days the Pilgrims and their plight with mocking and faith crushing persecution became real as my own emotions added wood to the fire of what would fuel the unveiling, daily, of new play scenes, new lyrics, new music. A new style, not copied from anyone else, (I'm not a musical theater person. Broadway has never been my cup of tea.) Yet this was some kind of musical theater. Hey! Original. And so it wsa.
During that September to December in '04 , Three musical plays were birthed. One after the other. And it's all still flowing. See what can come out of pressure, rejection, anxiety, and a broken heart?
Yours. Leslie

Next: The nature of “Inspiration” (The “mysterious power” behind all creativity)

Thursday, June 28, 2007

The Play's the Thing. Where's the story?

Telling a Story. Your Story. And Finding out you have a Voice."
Have you noticed how often the famous singers who serve as guest helpers to the contestants on American Idol, during the days before each Tuesday performance, implore the singers to “sing the story”, “tell the story”, “think about the words”, or “sell the song”. All of these declarations are true and should be observed.
Of course, if the performing artist needs to get the story out, how much more the creative source, the composer or songwriter? Not any story, but a "true story." The creative artist needs to get th"in touch" with something that "rings true" within. All creative expression is most powerful when it comes from that “truth” place inside of us. Whether it's a comedic song, play, or film is best when the writer is “bugged” about some quirk in humanity or society, and is perhaps poking fun at it, whether sarcastically or affectionately, the point is if there is a passionate feeling underlying the theme of the work, his or her fellow performers will feel it, as will the audience, all of us being “magnetized” by the message, all proceeding from the heart of the writer.
Ah, the writer! The least famous, least recognizable, most unsung member of the creative team in the public's awareness.
When Richard Rodgers used to meander throughout the Broadway area during the day, he went virtually unnoticed. This was the man who was responsible for top three or four smash Broadway hits running at the same time, at that very moment. These are the shows that those same crowds had traveled great distances and were spending a great deal of money to experience and enjoy, for two hours, beginning at 8 p.m. Does that seem fair? Ah, but the singers, actors, and directors know. They know that “The play’s the thing.” They appreciate the "story tellers".
By the way, who amongst us would recognize Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Tim Rice, or Bernie Taupin, (who wrote ALL of the words for those 50 or so Elton John hits. Song lyricists. More unsung heroes. But all of them knew how to tell a story. Often enough, a whole world would unfold in two or three minutes.
We'll encourage that here, as well. You can create a piece of a world that YOU feel. One that you're yearning for. Or trying to get away from. Lyrics. Your lyrics. The Meter. the Rhythm. (The words will inspire the last two.) And then..... Melody.
And wait 'til you've done it a second time. A third time. And the rest of us at ALT can tell a new song is one of YOUR songs. Because it has the distinctive, recognizable qualities of YOU.
In Theatre and Music we call this "finding or having your own VOICE."
What'cha think?
Yours. Leslie

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Songwriting -- A Step by Step Journey

There are persistent thoughts and feelings, sparks of truth that really matter to us. They haunt us on the inside, sometimes like a moaning wind, other times they are like the fairy nymph or sprite, mysterious and playful in turns.
What I’m trying to describe here is the beauty and wonder of the words that “come” to us if we’ll free our minds to enter into the open fields of watching, and waiting; Then, writing them down. Yes, the words will come. And they should be written down. “Nothing’s better left unsaid.” A flow will follow, and with some helpful encouragement, before long the look and fragrance of poetry will have appeared before you, on the page, by your hand.
Next, we need to declare it. Poetry when spoken is heightened speech. At this point, it’s already close to the fixed twelve tones that we observe universally around the world as the building blocks of music. (the 7 do, re, mi’s and the 5 “in between” notes.) Sing it. Sing it with your voice. There is no other like it. When it’s time for performing your work in sharing time, we’ll figure out who should sing or play, whatever.
At ALT we’ll take YOUR very personal and unique words and help you sing them, from the heart and with that unique voice. We’ll help you find YOUR melody, help you “unfold” it.
And folks, to those of you who are here, partnering with us, it will turn out to be American. And if LOGRES comes down on us, all bets are off!
Sorry. I got carried away there. Actually, I'm not really sorry.
So, where were we? Oh yes. Words we have. And a melody for singing them. Now what? We want to accompany it. Keyboard, guitar. Chords. Harmonies. Much like the painter’s palette, full of color possibilities. Bono from U2 speaks of rock ‘n roll as “three chords and a song’. O.K., for starters, three chords will do. They'll give your song a good foundation and framing. I’ll help you find the right three chords for each of your songs. But almost guaranteed, there'll be more. And someone here will teach you how to play them. Together we’ll discover the “right” accompaniment for “your” song; the one that fits YOUR emerging, distinctive voice.
Next, how about we take a look at how your song can be potentially part of a “story”, one that is performed. We'll be entering into the realm of …Musical Theatre.
Until then……Leslie

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Greetings from Leslie- June 26, 2007

We hope that those of you who feel some connection with either the Creative Urge or the LOGRES will desire to grow with us in the days ahead, in person, when possible, and by dialogue here, on the net, from wherever you are on Planet Earth. Either way, please consider yourself officially invited to become part of our American Logres Theatre creative community where we pledge ourselves to encourage, motivate, and inspire each other, based up here in the heights of the Green Mountains of Vermont, U.S.A.

Our talent potentials in writing of all kinds are much more than most of us believe. American Logres Theatre, as was Round Barn Theatre before it, is being founded upon this proposition: "The entire human family is endowed with an enormous range of talent potentials in creating not just in one area, but several within the various fine and performing arts . I am convinced that 99% of what we don't create is because of the first, responsibilites and "distractions" that get in the way of what may be a deep DESIRE to be able to "do", to create. Second, if oxygen and water were no more plentiful than the amount of encouragement you and I get in this world, the Amazon Rain Forests would have looked like the Sahara Desert, long ago. The lack of ENCOURAGEMENT and mentoring which enables us to "do", to create, needs to be addressed. And the third part of our threefold thought here is to provide a venue, a showcase for your work that is created here within ALT. How will it feel, knowing that a community of people who are really interested in your work are looking forward to "joying" with you in what you are doing, whether it's helping you perform and/or present it , or to being an appreciative and supportive fellow sojourner? OPPORTUNITY.

So what have we got here? DESIRE. You've gotta have that. We can't create that.
ENCOURAGEMENT and enabling. We can do that. And will.
OPPORTUNITY. We'll make that happen, also.

A Mission Statement of sorts for the CREATIVE part of ALT.


Waiting to hear from you, soon. Leslie

Welcome to all Visitors from Leslie

Greetings to all friends, including those from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, New Jersey, and more distant parts. And to all of our new friends throughout the state of Vermont, from the past five years, here in the state of Vermont.

Karen and I hope you find our new website to be decent.

In this blog, from now on, I want to begin a dialogue on our keyword theme, LOGRES, and the two main branches that extend from that source.

The first major theme will be the wide and under engaged realm of CREATIVITY. How much potential is their in our human society for creative expression, and how much of that talent lies dormant, needing only to be encouraged?

The second theme is the all important keyword concept to us at American Logres Theatre, that of course being LOGRES.

If you have looked over the links from our homepage, you have a good introduction to what LOGRES is all about. My own growth and understanding of this spiritual "climate" change has been growing and deepening since those early days in late 1973, when this 20 year old college student, newly "revived", after my James Dean "Rebel Without a Cause" teen years, was finishing the last of the seven Chronicles of Narnia books, by C.S. Lewis. That book, The Last Battle, ends with the earth children and Narnian friends passing into new lands that are clearly related to the Narnia and the England they knew all along. But not the same. These new realms are "within" the Old, yet larger! Brighter, more solid, richer in color, richer in all of the senses. What Lewis was driving at, though I hadn't yet met his concept yet, (that didn't come until a year later), was LOGRES. The Last Battle- the last 5 pages of the book. What we used to call ,"a mind blower!" And in a so-called children's book! Mind blower! You can trust me on this. Once again. Welcome. Much more to come.