Poetry without lyrics ?

Daktari · 01-12-2010, 08:43 AM

Hi there,

I recently posted an instrumental version of an old Irish folk song, originally based on a 17th century poem. It is called 'Women of Ireland' and was originally written in gaelic.

Erica, or VEGANGELLICA,(hi Erica),made the comment that she was more into lyrics and would like to hear that piece of music with the words attached. This got me to thinking, (now I''m really tired), at the end of the day, when we look at a page and read words, they are just symbols which in turn trigger images and emotions in our brains and make us feel hopefully the way the author wanted us to feel. My question is: Surely, listening to a well composed piece of music can have the same effect on our brains and still give folks the emotional feelings that listening to words gives us.

I suppose written poetry can be compared to the type of painting which is attempting to capture something that is real but placing it onto a flat 2D surface.

Musical poetry is a lot more like abstract painting which is not attempting to duplicate something but is the 'thing' itself.

I guess the main difference is the fact that abstract painting or instrumental music is certainly able to create strong emotional feelings in the viewer/listener but only in a general way. As soon as words are added, then the direction of emotions can be focused down into more detailed areas.

Am I talking a bunch of crap here or does anyone have any idea on what I'm getting at.

For example, my version of the song 'Women of Ireland' to me creates a feeling of a misty coastline and maybe a fishing boat bobbing about in the fog. Course as soon as the words are added, the listener is taken into a more detailed picture involving the suffering and toughness that these women had to endure throughout Ireland's turbulent history which I guess is not possible to reach with just music alone.

Any thoughts?

I have attached the link to my instrumental version of this song to give you some idea of what I'm talking about.

SoundClick artist: Daktari - I mainly play one-man reggae usually in local bars, restaurants and private parties. Also getting in

Take care, Gordon.

The Bullet · 01-12-2010, 09:45 PM

That was beautiful and I see exactly what you were trying to convey. Up until one minute seemed to represent a struggle and a discrimintation against the listener's kind. then, afterwards, you painted a picture of that misty coastline. Brilliant

This thread also reminded me of my comparison between Jazz and Rock.

Rock, even if instrumental, is usually trying to convey a certain image while jazz not always. Now I say to myself "rock is an expression of how you feel, jazz is an expression of who you are". i could list examples, but that's another post.

01-12-2010, 08:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
Daktari Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Originally from Lancashire, England, lived near Largs, Scotland and now live in Rocky Face, Georgia Posts: 154	Poetry without lyrics ? Hi there, I recently posted an instrumental version of an old Irish folk song, originally based on a 17th century poem. It is called 'Women of Ireland' and was originally written in gaelic. Erica, or VEGANGELLICA,(hi Erica),made the comment that she was more into lyrics and would like to hear that piece of music with the words attached. This got me to thinking, (now I''m really tired), at the end of the day, when we look at a page and read words, they are just symbols which in turn trigger images and emotions in our brains and make us feel hopefully the way the author wanted us to feel. My question is: Surely, listening to a well composed piece of music can have the same effect on our brains and still give folks the emotional feelings that listening to words gives us. I suppose written poetry can be compared to the type of painting which is attempting to capture something that is real but placing it onto a flat 2D surface. Musical poetry is a lot more like abstract painting which is not attempting to duplicate something but is the 'thing' itself. I guess the main difference is the fact that abstract painting or instrumental music is certainly able to create strong emotional feelings in the viewer/listener but only in a general way. As soon as words are added, then the direction of emotions can be focused down into more detailed areas. Am I talking a bunch of crap here or does anyone have any idea on what I'm getting at. For example, my version of the song 'Women of Ireland' to me creates a feeling of a misty coastline and maybe a fishing boat bobbing about in the fog. Course as soon as the words are added, the listener is taken into a more detailed picture involving the suffering and toughness that these women had to endure throughout Ireland's turbulent history which I guess is not possible to reach with just music alone. Any thoughts? I have attached the link to my instrumental version of this song to give you some idea of what I'm talking about. SoundClick artist: Daktari - I mainly play one-man reggae usually in local bars, restaurants and private parties. Also getting in Take care, Gordon.

01-12-2010, 09:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
The Bullet Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 454	That was beautiful and I see exactly what you were trying to convey. Up until one minute seemed to represent a struggle and a discrimintation against the listener's kind. then, afterwards, you painted a picture of that misty coastline. Brilliant This thread also reminded me of my comparison between Jazz and Rock. Rock, even if instrumental, is usually trying to convey a certain image while jazz not always. Now I say to myself "rock is an expression of how you feel, jazz is an expression of who you are". i could list examples, but that's another post.