Symbolic connections abound among the statues looking down on the main reading room of the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. Each pillar in the room is labeled with an art: history, science, religion, etc. Two representative portrait statues then flank each pillar -- for example Homer and Shakespeare stand on each side of the pillar of poetry.
I loved this subtle connection: because the statues flank their pillar, each statue stands beside the representative of a different art. I noticed, for example, Sir Isaac Newton (science) standing beside Moses (religion). I cannot say there is purposeful meaning in any specific pairing, but I cannot help but knit them together and ponder the novel combinations. What message might Beethoven and Herodotus create together?
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Jake's observation is fantastic. I too noticed the side by side nature of religion and science and thought: how progressive were the creators of this Library. Far more progressive than parts of American society today.
ReplyDeleteAs both a musician and a historian, I feel that Beethoven and Herodotus speak well to each other. History can be seen through music, as Beethoven's works reflected a darker, more sophisticated aire than say Mozart's, which reflected a lighter more joyous time. The 19th century of Beethoven was much political and martial, hence in my mind a link between his deeper music (I am speaking in terms of say the 9th Symp.) and historical perspective. Music is influenced by history again in WWII, due to the exodus of Jewish composers, singers, and musicians fleeing Nazi Germany. Without the vitriolic nature of Hitler's Germany, it is possible that their music would have been different, less American, etc.
As for a concrete message, listen to the music of an era and get a feel for its history, or that history inevitably influences the music of our time. 1960s-1970s America/American music anyone?