The Music Plays Non-Stop

It is said that Murakami Haruki, the author of 'Norwegian Wood", loved jazz and it influenced his writing. I would describe his work as having a strong element of surrealism to it but more predominant is his flow of story. One structure he has used is: alternating stories in sequential chapters, back and forth, back and forth. They are distinctly separate stories narrative-wise but undoubtedly they are related in other less obvious ways. Those ways are part of the flow, because the reader must feel the writing and make their own connections over the course of the book. These connections, whether they are emotional, subconscious or intuitive, paint the reader's experience.

Blues, a predecessor of jazz, started from the "calls and answers" pattern.

The not so rare condition of synesthesia transfers stimuli between different senses. Without being diagnosed with this condition, there is still an intuitive connection between colours, form and music. Red is harsh, etc.

I keep thinking of the drums in Africa because it is so simple and pure. It is like the essence of music - percussive rhythm in the open air. It is such an integral part of most if not all cultures. The time allotted for music is intermittently structured over the course of our living.

The man with headphones on the train wants to hear that particular music at that particular time - to pass the time, to enjoy, to uplift. We set music for our background at coffee shops or during dinner. Music is an integral part of a good film. The hammering of the construction work is not in rhythm so it is not enjoyable. Stomp, the famous show, puts these noises into a musical framework and it is blissful.

I study music theory from time to time and implement it in my ongoing improvisational piano playing. I learn the structures of harmony and intervals. I test it out, add it in. I develop an understanding for the tonal relationships. This musical testing is playing in the distant background of my awareness as I sketch forms on paper, as I carve forms from wood, as I make bridges between the parts of a sculpture through the use of curves and contours.



The wood forms can always be seen at: mikesasaki.com