Emotion and Meaning in Music

• Joy

Joy by Apollo 100

Whenever I hear the word joy, this is the first song that pops in my head. Obviously, it is due to the song's title but there's reason for that title as well. The song is essentially a note-for-note transcription of Johann Sebastian Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Whenever I think of that, I immediately think of dancing because I've seen a few movies in which that piece or pieces like that were played at a baroque-style ball or dance. In this case, Jesu would be an index in this semiotic chain. The idea of dancing and joy is the object of the song and that's why I always think of this tune, particularly the Apollo 100 version due to it being much more recent and more familiar to me. The upbeat and pop-rock style background and ethereal guitar break make this song both jubilant and uplifting to me.

• Sadness/Mourning

Sonata in G Minor Mov. 1 for Contrabass by Henry Eccles

What strikes me most as far as sadness goes in this piece is the opening interval of a minor 6th immediately at the start. It immediately reminds me of death or a carrying of a casket in some way. In a musically nerdy way, the interval has already passed the perfect fifth but doesn't have the strength to make it all the way to the stable major 6th so it just rests on a sad spacing. The slow tempo also reminds me of such a mournful idea. Another part of this piece that strikes me as saddening is that throughout, there is this feeling of loss. Although the notes around the 2-minute marker seem like some good is going to come out of whatever scenario the song is in, it eventually reverts back to this sense of hopelessness and acceptance of loss with nothing that can be done.

• Anger

She Hates Me by Puddle of Mudd

In my opinion, the main point and emotion of aggression comes through in this song through the heavy chorus and distorted guitars. Oh and I suppose the singer isn't too happy about a girl hating him. Initially, the lyrics make it seem like whatever girl it is hates him for no apparent reason but then he must have regretted saying something and then the anger reverts to some sort of self-loathing. There's an essence of acceptance in this song as well. The guy, who in this case, I would assume is the singer, is completely willing to admit that he is hated by his gal pal, but can't do anything about it and is upset about it. I also like how the guitar part sounds rather happy and upbeat for such an angry song; it's almost a satire of the acts that were directed toward the singer in the scenario; it's sort of a modern-sounding doowop feel with the transition into the heavy rock and grunge message of hate.

• Family

For My Father by Andy McKee

When I first heard this song, I could just tell how much raw emotion and dedication Andy was trying to portray to his father. The sort of dance-like swing of the song's time signature also makes it seem like a daughter dancing with her father on her wedding day. I think this is great because although the title refers to what would most likely be the artist's father, the song can be interpreted and received as anyone's father. I've always had such a good connection with my dad due to us being so alike and mine has always tried to make the best for my entire family and me. I like to think of it as a touching love / dedication song to any sort of father figure. It's almost a sort of, "Thanks and there's no need for you to do anything more for me," sort of message.

• Sexuality

New World Man by Rush

I took the approach of what it means to be a man with this one. What I like most about the song is that it doesn't necessarily portray a perfect man, so to speak, but rather one who can recognize his recurring mistakes and realize that he has to change them. "He's got a problem with his poisons/But you know he'll find a cure/He's cleaning up his systems/To keep his nature pure," really exemplifies how he is having problems but he knows what he's doing wrong and is trying to fix them. I think one of the most noble qualities and man can have is to understand the wrongs he is doing and admit to them and then try to repair any damage he's done. It completely cancels out the idea of a perfect or ideal man and takes to a true or real person who has the same problems as anyone else, but through thick and thin can get everything straightened out.

Music Minus Words

My name is Patrick Witt and I've so far lived my whole life in the small Northwest Suburb of Chicago called Inverness - Illinois, that is. Although I like the idea and feel of a simple and small town, there was a lack of musical interest among any of my neighbors or friends in the area. I was even raised in a primarily sports-orientated family so being a musician always made me the black sheep at family get-togethers and whatnot. What's worse, or in some cases, what's better is that even among a standard musician I have been viewed as being an outcast of that group. This is primarily due to a few musical aspects that aren't typically welcomed as much as others that I seem most comfortable listening to and playing. Some of these qualities include dissonance, odd rhythms, plenty of time signature changes, songs that extend up to and past 25 minutes, and the list goes on. However, one attribute that is especially key to me is the absence of any sort of vocalist. Now, this isn't to say that I don't listen to music with singers; that would be a blatant lie. However if there's ever one member of a band that just needs to go, or one musical characteristic that I would prefer to be without, it would be the vocalist.

To me, the ability to paint a sonic image or portray a given message, emotion, or feeling without having someone verbalize what exactly that message is is what makes music itself. Once again, this is not to say something can not be considered music if there are lyrics, I just prefer one over the other. I thought this would be an important aspect considering all of the music I write is completely instrumental and a handful of my favorite bands and artists are completely wordless. Now, I could go much more in depth about how I prefer to keep quiet in almost any given situation and be all philosophical about it but much of that has nothing to do with music itself; in fact it's the music that influences my actions.

Super Mario Brothers Theme on 11-String Bass by Jean Baudin

I'm sure most of you have heard the Super Mario Brothers theme. I'm also sure many of you have never even thought of the idea of a bass guitar having more than 4 strings, nonetheless 11. But I start with this video for a reason. Bass is my primary instrument - accidentally actually - and when I first started playing I did what any new musician would do and try to learn and play familiar tunes. Go ahead and search, "Super Mario Bass" in YouTube and this same video will be the first two hits. This is what I saw as a first year bassist and was completely awestruck at the talent this man exercised. Now many people know him as, "that big bass guy on YouTube" but I know him by Jean Baudin, you know, his actual name. Nevertheless, I decided to do a little research and discovered he has plenty of basses just like this one, each being what is referred to as an extended range bass (a bass that goes beyond the typical 6-string range). This inspired me to possibly invest in such a beautiful instrument. During this scour, I also discovered some of his solo work that inspired me to work on some of my own.

Vanishing by Jean Baudin

Same guy as before except this is his own song. This is actually the first song I ever heard by him aside from an Every Breath You Take cover he did with another bass player but disregard that. Anyway, this little ditty was the first extended range solo bass composed song I had ever heard. Keep in mind I had barely been playing any sort of instrument for a full year so needless to say I thought this was the coolest thing ever. I immediately bought the whole album (which I highly recommend doing) and listened to it for hours on end. It's still one of my favorite CD's. After listening to it so much, I thought to myself, "Hey, I play bass and he plays bass, therefore I can do something like that! I can make an entire bass album by myself, too!" I was actually lucky enough to find a 7-string bass at my local Guitar Center and as soon as I got it, I began composing. For the first time, I was able to write my own music for my own instrument. Speaking of which...




Livin' With What You're Given by Patrick Witt

Although it may seem like it, I didn't include this song to promote myself in any way; that's actually the last thing I ever try to do... Unless my main goal is to promote myself. Anyway, the actual reason I included this song is because it is an example of exactly what I had wanted to do when I first heard Jean Baudin, only taking place 3 or 4 years later. Everything you hear on this track and on this album is entirely bass. None of it is as complex as anything Jean Baudin does but nevertheless each song holds the same qualities as what I wanted to do when I first heard his CD.

This song is actually based off an idea or as some may say a belief I have that is provided in the title: living with the things you are given. In layman's terms, count your blessings, don't take things for granted, take what you can get, etc. It's a sort of minimalistic way of living and it's not half bad. Of course, in no way could I ever say I don't like things. I just normally don't go out of my way to get things I don't really think I need. It's sort of hard to explain properly but hopefully you get the idea. But this song exhibits a sort of natural flowing feeling, at least to me, hence the title.

The Lesson by Victor Wooten

Now this is the last bass song, I promise. Not everyone's a bass player, I know. Remember how I was talking about that natural flowing feeling? That's also something I value very much: nature, that is. It's right in front of us and all around us and I just think it's a really cool thing altogether. So how is that represented in this song? This song actually represents a music lesson (whether it is fiction or nonfiction is still undetermined but I tend to think it's up to the reader to interpret his or her own way) that the performer, Victor Wooten, actually experienced himself. He wrote about it in his book entitled The Music Lesson. Essentially, a man appears at his house to teach him music, not just bass, but music. He also accents the importance of nature within music. He elaborates on at least eight or so various characteristics of music such as rhythm, dynamics, notes, tone, and the whole lot and how each single one can be traced back to nature itself. This is a view I always like to have in music - I always try to locate the naturalism in each aspect to experience each piece or event in its best light. Same thing with nature: everything I experience in nature, I like to relate back to some musical aspect or at least analyze each spectrum of music in sight. Maybe not the most normal approach to music, but I certainly cherish it.

Home by Explosions in the Sky

The one topic that I have yet to talk about is where I'm from. This one may sound kind of lame but it's who I am. Anyway whenever I think of home, I think of this song and it goes the other way as well. However, my idea may not be the standard idea of home. Home is typically thought of as your house with your family and neighbors and all the bells and whistles but I try to take a more open approach to home. Think of it this way: you're always home. Whether you choose to make your house or the town you grew up with your so-called home, you can make any situation you feel an essence of comfort in a sort of home to you. Now I love my physical house, my family, and just about everything that comes with it but that's not to say I can't create another home if I so feel it. For example, most of the time I tend to think of a time frame as opposed to a person, place, or thing when I think of home - not even a time frame I personally experienced - maybe even the idea of a time frame I imagine is a much more apropos description - I like the scenario of children running free as though they have no rules or guidelines or boundaries because children, of anyone, deserve the enjoyment of such freedom. They are presented a world full of black and white and are told to color it any way they choose or not at all if they so desire. It's a comfortable feeling - exactly what a home should be - and one the children created for themselves while utilizing the natural surroundings they were given. So where do I come from? While geographically I reign from a small town in Illinois, my home per se, is wherever I so find a synonymous feeling and a sense of comfortability.