Composing a Symphony

Tchaikovsky speaks here, privately in a number of letters, about his creative process. He explains the magic that is experienced when inspiration appears and how such an even turns him into what he states as "a madman." His body trembles and he writes and writes and ideas flow until a worldly interruption comes crashing through and brings him back to reality. He notes that those moments are somewhat tragic and it will take a long time to find that inspiration or idea again, if there's a chance at all.

What I enjoy most is his statement in regards to creating powerful, moving music. He basically states that one cannot just use the education and knowledge of music to compose a piece and have it truly affect those who are to experience it. Even true musical geniuses create through some form of emotion that they experience. If one is going to move listeners, than one must be moved in creating such a piece. Like anything creatively, if it does not have your heart and soul poured into the piece, it won't be able to evoke the heart and soul of those around.

This is easily identifiable for myself as an actor, performer, or entertainer (three completely different things by the way). I am unable to give a rightful performance that truly touches an audience without being completely given in to the moment. I must feel every pain, elation, idea, etc that my character is feeling otherwise this character is not truthful and therefore not real. An actor who acts dryly and without motivation brings nothing to the stage but empty words and actions. To connect and share with an audience one must truly become a character and feel everything they feel, and then turn oneself inside out and pour those feelings out for everyone to see. You lie naked before a large group of people, in this private moment that can last for ages. Anything less is meaningless.

Sure, there is an enormous amount of research and practice that goes into creating that final product; and, like Tchaikovsky talks about in later letters he describes the process of picking apart and examining his ideals as he attempts to sew them together into a final piece. He talks of violently shredding himself down in order to take away parts written through love and enthusiasm, but that must be put away due to them not working in the ultimate picture. He talks of the meticulous work that is had in working and reworking his sketches before they truly work. An actor must research their character, real or fictional, to every last blood cell in order to fully understand them and/or create them. Then one must understand what does and doesn't work and be strong enough to strip away such hard work of blood, sweat, and tears in order to make an ultimately better form.

I relate to the creative process in many mediums as I feel that anything creative shares almost everything in almost every way. In the end, however, what it really comes down to is creating something emotionally inspired in order to emotionally inspire.