Denny, you wouldn't know this, but many years ago (not long after I got out of college) I heard you give a lecture on creativity—and you talked about many fascinating things, including the concept of the 'flow state' in music-making. I knew nothing about that subject back then, but your remarks that evening introduced me to a new, mind-expanding way of looking at things. I later went on to study the works of Csikszentmihalyi, Eliade, and others, but you opened the door to make that possible. So let me offer you belated thanks—a few decades late, but very heartfelt.
Quite by chance, I read this post while listening to William Orbit's New Nebula, which works through a simple three-note motif, with a fourth note as intermittent variation. (Electronic music of the past thirty years is saturated with repetition of single two-, three-, or four-note melodic lines, in an attempt -- and to corroborate Ted's excerpt -- to create a transcendent experience.)
I also picked up on Ted's song line that lasts three seconds (when talking about prosodic metre). Three seconds is just about the exact time it takes to read a standard English iambic pentameter line in moderate tempo.
Reading point 3 above (do angels harp or drum? do they provide order or ecstasy?), the 2022 mix of the Beatles' "Love to You" played in my headphones. Liverpool lads with a sitar and Indian-style rythmn (I plead ignorance of that musical tradition) doing their best to be shamanic guides on a major label release from 1966. Even such a "canonical" album as Revolver touches on the underworld journey.
Ted, you're opening my understanding to the deep, powerful otherworld that music can convey. I've felt transported by music many times. Now, I'm beginning to think that the Ancient Greek experience of the Iliad might have been more like going to Burning Man than reading it in my dorm room and discussing it in an evening seminar.
Dear Ted, I want to thank you deeply...for this one article threads together a lot of my studies and vocation in music and anthropology and reminds me of what I've been so curious about that along the way, lost track of. This is gold. Thank you so so much 🙏
ps, saw your interview with Rick Beato and found you here. Excited for what's next...
Music and poetry have always played a huge role in the memorization and transmission of stories. More recently, music was the direct predecessor of public address systems along with highly reverberant halls.
I love it when ideas intersect. I first became aware of Milman Parry and Albert Lord while teaching a college course on World Music. Then I again ran into them by way of Bart Ehrman's excellent book, 'Jesus Before the Gospels' wherein he studies oral cultures. Now I find them here! Amazing.
Very interesting thoughts, Ted. As you point out though, there is much more than thought that goes into what a shaman does. I have Eliade's book but have not read it yet. Through my interest in the music of Guadeloupe, I learned that the rhythm of their patois is based on seven sacred drum patterns.
Ted, I came across this video today and thought of the early chapters of your book, it's the our father played by the ancient harp of David https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZBqBnuRlBQ
I am currently reading The Immortality Key which delves into the rituals of ancient Greece and other parts of the world and it's use of psychoactive brews to come face to face with the afterlife before death. I have not finished the book, but it would not surprise me if a shaman was present to guide the way or some music to lead the soul during these ceremonies.
Getting high has always been a way for us to connect with something greater. Sadly the church and imperialism removed many of the best ways, leaving us with a weekly supply of dull wine and a piece of cardboard. Drums are, after all, as dangerous as mastrubation, and can and will leave you blind.
The similarities through time and place are striking in many ways. The desire to alter our mundane mental state. The hero's journey to the under world. The exogenous tools to get there and back. A shaman or guide to prepare and lead the way.
No doubt we have lost many powerful tools to connect with ourselves, each other and our planet. They will all be needed if we are to save our future, the planet and our deprived modern soul.
It seems to me that the Hebrew Bible is (potentially) a curious outlier - I’m struck by the fact that its creation story has God/s speaking the world into existence rather than singing it (which is de rigeur in Mesopotamian, Native American, and other polytheistic traditions (even in Tolkein’s Simarillion). Even the origin story of music (Gen. 4) makes it a mortal creation rather than a godly one, all as part of the (corrupt) march towards civilization of Cain’s descendants.
The lyrics tell the tale of the uprising of Dervish Cara in 1844, where the armies of the Ottoman leader Hayredin Pasha were defeated. Given the historical story, having the gusle player at the opening is a nice appropriate touch. The singers on this version give me goosebumps.
Hi Ted,
It's a privilege to have access to such ground-breaking ideas expressed so clearly, vividly, and in their own groove. Bravo, man......
Denny Zeitlin
Denny, you wouldn't know this, but many years ago (not long after I got out of college) I heard you give a lecture on creativity—and you talked about many fascinating things, including the concept of the 'flow state' in music-making. I knew nothing about that subject back then, but your remarks that evening introduced me to a new, mind-expanding way of looking at things. I later went on to study the works of Csikszentmihalyi, Eliade, and others, but you opened the door to make that possible. So let me offer you belated thanks—a few decades late, but very heartfelt.
Ted, thanks for letting me know of the special connection we had so many years ago.
Today, I’m able to recite this kindergarten science lesson only because the melody we sang it to 62 years ago was so darn catchy:
“The sun is a mass of incandescent gas -
A gigantic nuclear furnace
Where hydrogen is built into helium
At a temperature of millions of degrees.”
Would I have been able to retain that without the benefit of having sung it? Not a chance in the solar system.
I agree, I think the main spine that is connecting this chapter is the phrase "mnemonic support" that Ted uses. Thats what I am really pondering on.
Quite by chance, I read this post while listening to William Orbit's New Nebula, which works through a simple three-note motif, with a fourth note as intermittent variation. (Electronic music of the past thirty years is saturated with repetition of single two-, three-, or four-note melodic lines, in an attempt -- and to corroborate Ted's excerpt -- to create a transcendent experience.)
I also picked up on Ted's song line that lasts three seconds (when talking about prosodic metre). Three seconds is just about the exact time it takes to read a standard English iambic pentameter line in moderate tempo.
Looking forward to the upcoming chapters, Ted.
Reading point 3 above (do angels harp or drum? do they provide order or ecstasy?), the 2022 mix of the Beatles' "Love to You" played in my headphones. Liverpool lads with a sitar and Indian-style rythmn (I plead ignorance of that musical tradition) doing their best to be shamanic guides on a major label release from 1966. Even such a "canonical" album as Revolver touches on the underworld journey.
Ted, you're opening my understanding to the deep, powerful otherworld that music can convey. I've felt transported by music many times. Now, I'm beginning to think that the Ancient Greek experience of the Iliad might have been more like going to Burning Man than reading it in my dorm room and discussing it in an evening seminar.
Love this so far. Really looking forward to the next chapter!
Dear Mr. Gioia, is this a book we’ll be able to buy in hard copy some day?
Probably—but I don’t have details to share yet.
Dear Ted, I want to thank you deeply...for this one article threads together a lot of my studies and vocation in music and anthropology and reminds me of what I've been so curious about that along the way, lost track of. This is gold. Thank you so so much 🙏
ps, saw your interview with Rick Beato and found you here. Excited for what's next...
Woooowwww. This is amazing work
Love it, a lot to research on this and I thought I had the area well covered!
Music and poetry have always played a huge role in the memorization and transmission of stories. More recently, music was the direct predecessor of public address systems along with highly reverberant halls.
I love it when ideas intersect. I first became aware of Milman Parry and Albert Lord while teaching a college course on World Music. Then I again ran into them by way of Bart Ehrman's excellent book, 'Jesus Before the Gospels' wherein he studies oral cultures. Now I find them here! Amazing.
Very interesting thoughts, Ted. As you point out though, there is much more than thought that goes into what a shaman does. I have Eliade's book but have not read it yet. Through my interest in the music of Guadeloupe, I learned that the rhythm of their patois is based on seven sacred drum patterns.
Ted, I came across this video today and thought of the early chapters of your book, it's the our father played by the ancient harp of David https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZBqBnuRlBQ
Wonderfully written and interesting as always.
I am currently reading The Immortality Key which delves into the rituals of ancient Greece and other parts of the world and it's use of psychoactive brews to come face to face with the afterlife before death. I have not finished the book, but it would not surprise me if a shaman was present to guide the way or some music to lead the soul during these ceremonies.
Getting high has always been a way for us to connect with something greater. Sadly the church and imperialism removed many of the best ways, leaving us with a weekly supply of dull wine and a piece of cardboard. Drums are, after all, as dangerous as mastrubation, and can and will leave you blind.
The similarities through time and place are striking in many ways. The desire to alter our mundane mental state. The hero's journey to the under world. The exogenous tools to get there and back. A shaman or guide to prepare and lead the way.
No doubt we have lost many powerful tools to connect with ourselves, each other and our planet. They will all be needed if we are to save our future, the planet and our deprived modern soul.
Thanks for shining a light.
Fascinating! Excited to see where this goes.
It seems to me that the Hebrew Bible is (potentially) a curious outlier - I’m struck by the fact that its creation story has God/s speaking the world into existence rather than singing it (which is de rigeur in Mesopotamian, Native American, and other polytheistic traditions (even in Tolkein’s Simarillion). Even the origin story of music (Gen. 4) makes it a mortal creation rather than a godly one, all as part of the (corrupt) march towards civilization of Cain’s descendants.
There are still echos today of the epic gusle playing bards. Check out this modern version of the Albanian folk song Hajredin Pasha -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZX-X58wsm8
The lyrics tell the tale of the uprising of Dervish Cara in 1844, where the armies of the Ottoman leader Hayredin Pasha were defeated. Given the historical story, having the gusle player at the opening is a nice appropriate touch. The singers on this version give me goosebumps.