In my previous Vivid Dream post I wrote how Beethoven composed his mighty works and must now comment on the fact that he and the likes of Tchaikovsky and Chopin were blessed with an inherent genius for melody which escapes most composers. Today there are composers of film scores who do have that genius, but they are few in number. Unlike today though, when technology provides tools to take the weakest melodies and build them into grand structures, the orchestrations by the great composers of the past had to be mostly built in their heads and not stored in data files and folders.Obviously there were transcriptions from piano drafts but those were real composers ‘from their bootstraps up’.
In response to a question from Arthur Abell on how to tap into the creative source Brahms replied “It cannot be done through the conscious mind, or by mere will power. It can only be accomplished by soul power; this is the real ego that survives bodily death. This soul power is quiescent to the conscious mind unless illumined by Spirit. To obtain this illumination, accept the teachings of Jesus, who not only says that the indwelling Father does the works, but who taught us that” I and the Father are one”. This is the first great requisite to real change, a real unfolding of life, to realize we are one with the Creator. Very few human beings come into this realization, and that is why there are so few creative geniuses in any line of human endeavor. I always contemplate all of this before commencing to compose. This is the first step.”
Brahms went on “Appealing deeply to the Father within, I ask Him the three most important questions pertaining to our life here in this world – who and what am I? For what reason am I here? Where am I going? Having asked myself these questions and put myself in this contemplative frame of mind, I immediately feel vibrations that thrill my whole being. This I think, and I believe, is the Spirit illuminating the soul power within. The divine and whatever is the mortal expression of the divine is now manifested. In that exalted state I see clearly (The Vivid Dream) and I draw inspiration. I realize the tremendous significance of Jesus’ supreme revelation “I and the Father are one”. After I have formulated my desire and resolve to what I want, namely to be inspired so that I can compose something that will uplift and benefit humanity, something of permanent value, these vibration assume the form of distinct mental images.”
It is obvious that as with Brahms our motive must be of the highest ideal before we can enter The Vivid Dream state from where grand ideas and their manifestation can be accomplished – particularly in the area of the arts.