My daughter was messing around on her grandmother's piano yesterday and I noticed that she very methodically lined up the cards first and then "played" to them. After a short spurt of "music", she would re-arrange the cards and substitute some of them for new ones. Musical playing cards. Of course. 52 notes, a multitude of combinations that produce a whole new range of melodies. You just have to learn a new set of notes. What songs would they combine to create? Which card would be your favourite? Which suit? Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm. Makes me want to play a hand. How about you? I can picture myself clutching a handful of cards as I fall to sleep, a sleep that brings a dream of lullabies I haven't heard yet.
Since 2020, I have written the following: -grandiose grocery lists (written on an empty stomach) that often end up getlting left behind at home -funding proposals -delicately worded emails -harried Whatsapp messages -a slew of facebook messages (that basically kept me alive) -a tinder profile or two... -utilitarian text messages -heart felt text messages -the very occasional love note (on paper) to a friend or a loved one The things I have not written since 2020: -a journal -a multi-page handwritten letter -a play -a sketch -a novel -more than 2-3 blog posts that I didn't even publish -a pros and cons list
This is such a beautiful idea. It kind of reminds me of John Cage's work as well - our idea of music being re-arranged by say silence, or in this case, playing a hand of cards. Beautiful image, I love it. Sheilah
ReplyDeletethanks for letting me know about John Cage, Sheilah. I checked him out a little. Fascinating. I found this youtube video of a recent version of his 4'33 and it makes you think about finding/expressing music through silence in the age of the blackberry.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPZYyq8LoxA
it's hard to give over to that silence! xo erin