As a musician, it has always been the case that I would memorize songs and not poems, but even then I find I am memorizing melodies, forms, chord changes (meaning, for non-musicians, the harmonic sequences of the music), and not lyrics, which I would sometimes only vaguely know, if it all. This is meant to allow non-singing musicians to get through the gig, but it is ultimately a hollow approach, as it does not fully respect the songs or songwriters. And, as I have been many times reminded by admired musicians, this approach does not allow a musician to fully realize the song, because it leaves out critical intellectual/emotional components — even if the performance doesn't include the sung vocal, it should still respect and be informed by the full meaning. I'm lately trying to re-learn songs I once knew, and will work harder at memorizing the lyrics, too. It seems the right thing to do.
thank you for recognizing the importance of memory and its inclusion of words we love: the skill of memorization is being removed from our daily lives bit by bit as we allow the iCloud to drift in and store what we love and cared for. Considering a lost phone and its only link to find and contact our loved ones is a prompt for basic memorization, but how many of us even know 9 numbers in a row? and memory is banked and accessible from the internet et al. so why cloud my brain with stuff that I can get to anytime anyplace anyhow? taxing my brain and distracting me from my busy world of doing ...
I vividly recall wheeling grandmother past a plastic bouquet of daffodils and her reciting from Wordsworth at age 94+ the poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud! Much more positive than Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening that one of my kids memorized for grade school. Makes me wonder is it easier to memorize certain types of poetry over others?
Bravo Henry! Especially delighted that it's Wordsworth here. I just started memorizing "To Autumn" by Keats... oof...t's much harder to memorize in your 60s than it was ...well...before 60! But I've got the first 6 lines down. I say them first thing in the morning and throughout the day, and I'm going to keep adding lines. It's lovely to begin the day with, 'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness...'
As a musician, it has always been the case that I would memorize songs and not poems, but even then I find I am memorizing melodies, forms, chord changes (meaning, for non-musicians, the harmonic sequences of the music), and not lyrics, which I would sometimes only vaguely know, if it all. This is meant to allow non-singing musicians to get through the gig, but it is ultimately a hollow approach, as it does not fully respect the songs or songwriters. And, as I have been many times reminded by admired musicians, this approach does not allow a musician to fully realize the song, because it leaves out critical intellectual/emotional components — even if the performance doesn't include the sung vocal, it should still respect and be informed by the full meaning. I'm lately trying to re-learn songs I once knew, and will work harder at memorizing the lyrics, too. It seems the right thing to do.
Excellent! Let us know how you get on!
thank you for recognizing the importance of memory and its inclusion of words we love: the skill of memorization is being removed from our daily lives bit by bit as we allow the iCloud to drift in and store what we love and cared for. Considering a lost phone and its only link to find and contact our loved ones is a prompt for basic memorization, but how many of us even know 9 numbers in a row? and memory is banked and accessible from the internet et al. so why cloud my brain with stuff that I can get to anytime anyplace anyhow? taxing my brain and distracting me from my busy world of doing ...
Well played again, Henry
I can recite the opening of To A Butterfly by Wordsworth. I might task myself with memorising it all.
Its almost too beautiful and sad.
You recited this wonderfully.
Than you :) I hope you do memorise it and then tell us!
Lovely to see another of these. I, too, have let my project of poetry memorization slip. I am inspired to resume.
yes! do it! then we will both feel accountable!
I vividly recall wheeling grandmother past a plastic bouquet of daffodils and her reciting from Wordsworth at age 94+ the poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud! Much more positive than Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening that one of my kids memorized for grade school. Makes me wonder is it easier to memorize certain types of poetry over others?
Loved this Henry! I have a few memorized. The oldest are the easiest to remember. I am working on more :)
Bravo Henry! Especially delighted that it's Wordsworth here. I just started memorizing "To Autumn" by Keats... oof...t's much harder to memorize in your 60s than it was ...well...before 60! But I've got the first 6 lines down. I say them first thing in the morning and throughout the day, and I'm going to keep adding lines. It's lovely to begin the day with, 'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness...'
One technique I heard 20+ or 40 years ago- start with the last lines. I guess you then know it backwards and forward- ha