The Theme of Courage in Music

I have been thinking recently about the word 'courage' and how it applies to music-making, and in which context the theme of bravery has appeared, perhaps in different pieces or compositions.

Courage is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as the ability to do something that frightens one.  I think it is a quality that all human beings, regardless of age or sex, will have to bring forth at one time or another in their lives.

Most people would agree that it takes a certain amount of courage to practice, play, and perform a musical instrument. And even more so when details are involved, one needs to face them with determination.

For example, an aspect of cello playing is long-distance shifts that can make cellists cringe before take off, depending on the circumstances. There is an appropriate way to shift for a safe landing to the desired destination, but even then, sometimes things might not go as perfectly as we might have imagined.

All my lessons with my teachers have been epic, but on one occasion, I had that cringe moment before my shift. And my teacher, sensing my hesitation, remarked. “It is better to go into a shift with valor and end up wrong than go into it with fear and intimidation.” And this comment has remained with me throughout the years, and from time to time, I remind myself, should I need to.

Many different aspects of life require us to face things that frighten us. Facing difficult situations, standing up for what we think is right, speaking up against unfair decisions, admitting our mistakes, and even speaking in front of a large group of people. In music, one major example of courage and an obvious one is going on stage to perform. And I have learned to cope with this aspect in different ways throughout the years. One helpful way has been the frequency of performances, as I have learned that performing often helps reduce stage fright.

Having defined all that, this theme appears abundantly in classical music, mainly in operas but also in instrumental music.

In the opera Orfeo and Euridice by Gluck, Orfeo descends into the underworld to bring back his wife Euridice. There are, however, some rules he must follow to fulfill that: playing music on the lyre and not making any eye contact with his wife. Of course, the latter creates complications in the story; however, even then, the story ends happily, as the Gods grant Orfeo his wish to save his wife. This opera was first performed in Vienna and depicts the courage Orfeo showed in descending into the underworld and not looking back at his wife, at least in the first two acts.

Another touching story in the world of opera, Verdi’s La Traviata, features the famous aria “Addio del Passato,” sung by Violetta, who demonstrates her courage as she accepts her fate. In the aria, she says her goodbyes to happy times and the fact that she will miss her lover, and asks not to place flowers on her grave.

A third, and equally powerful, demonstration of courage in the face of betrayal is depicted in Puccini’s Opera Tosca, where the heroine throws herself to her own death after realizing that her lover has been killed.

Naturally, this is not a comprehensive set of examples, but it is a place to start exploring themes in classical music. I will continue this discussion and keep discovering how the theme of courage has been treated in the world of music over the following weeks.

What does courage mean to you? At what time did you wish that you had gathered more courage? In your life or as it relates to music. Please write in the comments below.