Quotation -- Art

Truth Tellers: Leo Tolstoy, in Love With Truth

 

Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (Leo Tolstoy) 1828 - 1910

 “Art is not a pleasure, a solace, or an amusement;  art is a great matter.  Only through the influence of art the peaceful cooperation of man will come about, and all violence will be set aside.”

An interesting biographical snippet:

It may surprise some readers to learn that of all art forms, the great Leo Tolstoy, the great man of letters, was most moved by music. His son, Serge, a composer, said that no man he had ever known was so deeply affected by music as his father. Notable people witnessed his reaction to music as well. The great Russian basso Feodor Chaliapin recalled that when he came to sing for Tolstoy, Sofia Tolstoya drew him aside saying: “It might be that when you sing, my husband will shed tears. Please try not to notice, as he would feel terribly ashamed.” Tchaikovsky also noted in his diary: “Perhaps I have never in my life been so gratified and my creative ambition so touched as when L.N. Tolstoy, sitting beside me and listening to the andante of my First String Quartet, burst into tears.”

Raymond Beegle

Complete Article:

https://www.theepochtimes.com/truth-tellers-leo-tolstoy-in-love-with-truth_3533979.html

Music - Emotional Observation

Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven Portrait by Joseph Karl Stieler, 1820 (Beethoven-Haus, Bonn, Germany)

Beethoven's Cello Sonata No. 2 in G Minor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh1qk_kgIc0

It's an interesting observation that, when listening to some of these video recordings, where we can watch the musicians playing, and we can see their facial expressions and emotions — if the music is happily romantic or sad, it is easy for the eyes to become moist ... this also happens at live concerts (Of course,  I'm just a silly emotional person).  Does it mean that we share the emotions of sadness or happiness with the musician?

On the other hand, when the same music is accompanied only by wonderful photographic images of nature, etc., then, I find that I'm not tearful.  Does this mean that the visual images are a distraction and, thus, I'm not listening seriously enough?

Also, if I watch the musicians a second time, I'm just as emotional (if not more) whereas the natural images become a little boring.

Therefore, perhaps, we should always close our eyes.

If emotions are concealed, then, one's character is suppressed.