Thinking About Classical Music

[RonPrice]

PEOPLE AT THE CENTRE

Clive James and Peter Porter today discussed 'books of the forties and fifties.' In that discussion they talked about music, classical and other, taking over from literature in the last half of the twentieth century in providing that sense of certitude, although irrational, that people felt a need for in their lives. They also talked about the decline of ideology after WW2 and into the 1950s. The role of Alexander Solzenitsyn's books in the fifties, sixties and seventies played an important part in this process, insofar as the Left was concerned, as fascism had done insofar as the Right was concerned in the two previous decades. A reservoire of skepticism in the west, and especially in England, returned the centre of poetry to the individual in those same years. -Ron Price with thanks to "Clive James and Peter Porter," Sunday Special, ABC Radio, 5:30-6:00 pm, 2 December, 2001.

As ideology wound down

in the fifties, the sixties and seventies,

we began to grow and grow all over,1

slowly, unobtrusively. So it is

that I've spent my adult life

with people who have no ideology,

plenty of convictions, all too many of them,

but no ideological centre--

liked reading novels, listening to music,

watching TV, working in the garden,

but absolutely no interest in going to meetings--

except to learn macrame, lead lighting

and the inevitable work-associated

special planning session at 8 pm,

or a new course, or something at uni,

or a movie, or a volunteer job

where no ideology was desired.

For ideology did not grab anyone anymore.

And religious ideology became the no-no

among no-nos--amidst endless subjectivity,

Superficial and not-so-superficial pragmatism

had made everyone practical realists,

enjoying as far as they were able

the disenchantment of the world.

And slowly, yes slowly, this new ideology,

new dogma grew until it came to manifest

an attractive form, a gentle beauty

all around the world

with holy dust at the centre--and people

from that desolate garden of disenchantment.

1 The Baha'i Faith spread around the world.

Ron Price

2 December 2001