The Große Fugue "Experience"
My last post talked about music's role in my life and in my healing, with particular emphasis on Beethoven and his Eroica symphony.
What I want to do here is a bit more provocative and focussed. In that last post, I mentioned Beethoven's Große Fugue. In my opinion, that piece is in a class all by itself and has the power to have an unfathomable impact on those of us who live with complex mental issues, and dissociative disorders in particular.
The fugue was written along with Beethoven's five late quartets from 1825-26 (he died in 1827). I'll give a small musical analysis of this piece only so that readers can see why this piece would mean something to someone who deals with a dissociative disorder.
There are countless works of art and music which grapple with complexity. In the music world, the quartets of Bartók and Schoenberg are in that extreme. Michael Jackson's "This is It" movie reviews are fawning over the glimpses into his musical creativity, but (and I'm showing extreme bias here) can you imagine the disparity if a similar documentary were made showing live footage of Beethoven creating some of his master works?
For me, the Große Fugue is a journey into complexity which mirrors the complexity of my inner workings. If I can manage to actually pay attention to it for its entirety, I find it incredibly soothing and validating (which is probably a bit counter-intuitive). What's amazing is that it is a marriage between the pleasing sonata and abstract musical constructs. There are myriad changing keys, rhythms, and tempi. Musical concepts which stop and start unexpectedly and, some would say, and correctly so, violently. There's an incredible amount of dissonance (notes which sound "unpleasant") and counterpoint which makes sense of distinct melodies, causing notes to work against other notes.
The piece starts out with several broad strokes of clear musical ideas in several fits and starts. Each one of these ideas could be taken by itself and go on its own and present a perfectly pleasing piece. But Beethoven doesn't do that. Instead, he throws all these ideas out there, almost like he's saying "I could do this, or that, or this other." But then he launches into what could be perceived as chaos; a first fugue in B-flat that is nearly impossible to follow. Objectively, most people would hear this and say it's "quite unpleasant". In fact, when it debuted in 1826 as the last movement to the quartet in B-flat, the response was so uncomprehending that Beethoven was forced to change the ending by his publisher and issue the Große Fugue as a standalone work. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when Beethoven go that news from his publisher!
Eric Lewis, violinist in the Manhattan String Quartet, described this piece by saying: That piece is beyond all analogy in art, and so I reach for this image; a cosmic storm where the laws of the universe are transmuted in gravitational tides so strong they destroy the known laws of harmony. The G-flat section is a reprise between the two event horizons where time is non-existent. Paradoxical states of consciousness are made understandable and prepare one for the final journey through the A-flat fugue to a vision of a parallel universe in another dimension. I am sure Beethoven took that journey and left his impressions of that universe.
So, I ask: Who knows more about parallel universes than the dissociative?
For those of us who struggle with dissociation or internal parts of our personality that gets in the way of our functioning, we are constantly trying to explain our internal world to ourselves and to others in order to make sense of it and heal. To my ears (and heart and mind), the Große Fugue is Beethoven making sense of my experience. Thank you Herr Beethoven!
For an interesting article, see: Alex Ross' Great Fugue, The New Yorker, Feb. 6, 2006.
For video of this piece, see: Alban Berg Quartet on YouTube, Part I (and also Part II); it's no substitute for a quality audio recording.
Finally, a friend of mine shared with me a TED talk on music which you may find enjoyable. See: Benjamin Zander on Music and Passion; albeit he speaks of a different type of classical music from the one discussed here.
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Welcome
"Healing from Trauma and Dissociation"
I'm Paul, a father, husband, scientist, educator, photographer and musician. I'm also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.
Mind Parts consists of my own insights on the aftermath of childhood sexual abuse, namely trauma stress and the full spectrum of dissociative coping mechanisms, including dissociative identities. Through a blog, I explore the healing process in a variety of ways—using creative contributions of original art, photography, poetry, and music as well as, hopefully, though-provoking essays. Mind Parts is also home to two support services. The quarterly Ezine Trauma Recovery Highlights is a look at some of the best online resources. Also, the monthly Expressive Arts Carnival makes available activities which are published as a group "Carnival."
Comments are welcomed, but if you prefer, you may contact me offline. My belief is that sites like this one can contribute by offering unique perspectives and knowledge, thereby enhancing opportunities not only for survivors but for readers and society as a whole. Namaste!
When I first started my therapy and began to grapple with learning about DID and my own mind... I first compared it to Bach and his use of counterpoint. And it was comforting to me to listen to the way that two very different pieces of music are being played and made into one. I think I am working up to the symphony comparison only recently (recognizing ALL of the different ways of my mind and all of the complexity). There is also the fact that 'dissociative fugue' is a term often used when describing this issue too. I hope you are well. Jenny
The first time I heard this piece of music, I was stunned. I experienced rapid eye movement and a range of emotions. When I listen to it today, it reflects the internal chaos. It feels like a journey through darkness.
It is a piece that makes you feel... I can't analyse it, as I don't have the skills. But I detect the different aspects of the dissociative system within - lightness, despair, confusion...
Thank you for bringing this piece of music to our attention. I get something new from it each time I listen.
Take care,
CG
Hi Jenny and Castorgirl. Yes, there are lots of wonderful analogies between music and what we all experience. I think, quite honestly, that being able to analyze a piece (looking at the music score perhaps and hearing the kinds of elements that are put together) is quite unnecessary. Music was written to be experienced. And, so enjoy it. All of it.
Hey Paul,
Just wanted to thank you for these last two posts. I've been listening to Beethoven (the symphonies with Toscanini conducting) all week thanks to you! Was always very into music, listening and playing piano, but seem to have lost touch with it since my T has become so intense. So right now, bringing it back in is extremely helpful and healing. It feels good on the inside to be listening to music again, you know? Your girls are extremely lucky to be exposed not only to great music but to your love and enthusiasm for it as well! It's a wonderful gift you are giving them!
I definitely can see many parallels between the dissociative mind and Beethoven's symphonies. Nothing that is ready for words yet though, still composting the ideas if you know what I mean?
I just downloaded the Große Fugue last night and am looking forward to listening to it over the weekend and so will hopefully have something intelligent to say about it after that. Just knowing there is someone to talk about this music with makes it so much sweeter!
Anyway, thanks for helping me remember music again :-)
jahda
Jahda, how nice! Thanks! So, what did you think of the second movements of the 3rd, 5th and 7th? We can all get back what we've lost touch with, and as we heal it makes the experience even better. Thanks also for the compliments on my kids. My therapist made this same point yesterday, but I have trouble accepting that I do anything really that good with or for them. I always see the ways I fail people more easily.
Hi, Paul -
I'm so glad that music can support your healing process! What an amazing brain you have!
- Marie (Coming Out of the Trees)
I just wanted to say "Hi".
Tempy, I'm always glad when you stop by and say hello!
"Jahda, how nice! Thanks! So, what did you think of the second movements of the 3rd, 5th and 7th?"
Hey Paul,
Well, all of Beethoven reminds me so much of my daughter when she was little dancing ballet around the living room - she adored Beethoven even as a little girl and now as a young adult she has majored in music and Beethoven is her #1 favorite composer! So I think exposing your girls to such transcendent music as they grow is a gift you are giving them that will stay with them all their life!
As far a the second movements, I'm not a musician, but my favorite by far is the second movement of Symphony #2. I think I must have played that non-stop for years and driven the neighbors crazy. But I just can't get enough of it, lol! As far as the ones you mention, I guess my favorite would be the Larghetto in #7 - it's so uplifting - transcendent -ethereal (but then all of Beethoven is transcendent). (Trying to answer this makes me realize how lacking I am in appropriate words to describe music... There is so much to learn!) But I am excited because I finally got a decent speaker system for my ipod and so, with the long T vacation almost here, I am planning to get down to some serious listening in order to keep "sane" and "centered". I've recently been looking into coloring and drawing mandalas as a form of healing did, and so I'm planning to listen to music while doing this and see what happens.
Anyway, I appreciate your love of classical music and using it in your healing - thanks for getting me back on track with that. I think one of the parts was off on some modern music foray and so I've kind of been away from the classics for awhile, but now I'm back! :-)
Btw, do they let you have your music while in the hospital?
Take care Paul,
jahda
Thanks Jahda! Yes, the Larghetto from #2 is quite nice. It's so great you cultivated an appreciation for music in your daughter as I'm trying to do the same with my children. Yes, the hospital allows our laptops, has wireless, and have my iPod and big awesome headphones.