ART: Zen Songwriting

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  • Onrin
    Member
    • Apr 2021
    • 193

    ART: Zen Songwriting

    Jeff Tweedy, the main songwriter of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, recently wrote an insightful little book called How To Write One Song. And though he hasn't mentioned Zen once, his thought process strikes me as that which I think some in Treeleaf may appreciate.

    From the intro: "No one writes songs - plural. They write one song, and then another. And is also a reminder of what you really want. Or what I think you should REALLY want, which is to disappear -to watch your concept of time evaporate, to live at least once inside a moment when you aren't "trying" to do anything or be anything anymore. To spend time in a place where you just are."

    The book is about the practice of songwriting, rather than writing a "great" song. And how he creates the conditions, puts the elements in place that allow for quality of time spent, more focused on the process than the result.

    Sat today,
    Chris
    Last edited by Jundo; 07-20-2021, 01:44 PM.
  • Tai Shi
    Member
    • Oct 2014
    • 3423

    #2
    Have you tried sitting?
    Gassho
    sat/ lah
    Tai Shi


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Peaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆

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    • Heiso
      Member
      • Jan 2019
      • 834

      #3
      There's a podcast about Jeff and that book - https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/all#...masterclass-2/

      Gassho,

      Heiso

      StLah

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      • Naiko
        Member
        • Aug 2019
        • 842

        #4
        Originally posted by kurisu
        Jeff Tweedy, the main songwriter of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, recently wrote an insightful little book called How To Write One Song. And though he hasn't mentioned Zen once, his thought process strikes me as that which I think some in Treeleaf may appreciate.

        From the intro: "No one writes songs - plural. They write one song, and then another. And is also a reminder of what you really want. Or what I think you should REALLY want, which is to disappear -to watch your concept of time evaporate, to live at least once inside a moment when you aren't "trying" to do anything or be anything anymore. To spend time in a place where you just are."

        The book is about the practice of songwriting, rather than writing a "great" song. And how he creates the conditions, puts the elements in place that allow for quality of time spent, more focused on the process than the result.

        Sat today,
        Chris
        Thank you for posting; this sounds like an interesting book. I enjoy a glimpse into an artist’s creative process.
        Gassho,
        Naiko
        st

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        • Tai Shi
          Member
          • Oct 2014
          • 3423

          #5
          I have read Opening the Hand of Thousands and no what does Uchiyama discount sitting and I can say the same of Dogan in Gengokoan at least lol ch 7.


          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
          Peaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆

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          • Tai Shi
            Member
            • Oct 2014
            • 3423

            #6
            Uchiyama does not discourage sitting nor does Dogen.


            Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
            Peaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆

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            • Onrin
              Member
              • Apr 2021
              • 193

              #7
              Originally posted by Heiso
              There's a podcast about Jeff and that book - https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/all#...masterclass-2/

              Gassho,

              Heiso

              StLah
              Thank you Heiso, I will check that out.

              Comment

              • Jundo
                Treeleaf Founder and Priest
                • Apr 2006
                • 40468

                #8
                If I may, I am going to move this thread into our Music and Arts section in a couple of days, so that we can keep it around.

                Gassho, Jundo

                SatTodayLAH
                ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

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                • Seiko
                  Treeleaf Unsui
                  • Jul 2020
                  • 1049

                  #9
                  Isn't it amazing that one person can play a three-part piano piece by Bach and never have more than two hands.
                  Gandō Seiko
                  頑道清光
                  (Stubborn Way of Pure Light)

                  My street name is 'Al'.

                  Any words I write here are merely the thoughts of an apprentice priest, just my opinions, that's all.

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                  • Ryumon
                    Member
                    • Apr 2007
                    • 1801

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Seiko
                    Isn't it amazing that one person can play a three-part piano piece by Bach and never have more than two hands.
                    There are even four voice fugues in Bach’s Art of Fugue.

                    Gassho,
                    Ryūmon (Kirk)
                    Sat
                    I know nothing.

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