Passion, Pulse, and Artistry
And Mans Pulse stopt, All passions sleep in Peace.
—Robert Herrick
I grew up dancing to rock and roll, and at various times I’ve taken classes in most ballroom dances, as well as in club dances such as salsa and West-coast swing. I like to dance, and I like seeing people dance. And I love seeing professional dancers and dance companies perform.
I relish dance performances where passion, extraordinary technique, and artistry seem intertwined. Along similar lines, I generally prefer music that is eloquently expressive and embodies a sense of physical motion. Verdi’s music is a great example. George Balanchine described Verdi’s music as danceable from beginning to end. Most music that deeply moves me is “danceable” in this sense, with perceptible pulse, meter, and kinetic energy.
I’ve incorporated a wide range of dance rhythms into my own compositions—from rumba to waltz. For me various dance rhythms evoke contrasting moods, changing energy levels, and various states of passion—the kind we have as desire-driven creatures existing in time-bound bodies. Later, as Herrick suggests, there will be time enough for passions to sleep.