From Words to Tunes

Music and Poetry. At first, they seem easily distinguishable, but is that the case? One could argue that they were interweaved for thousands of years. For instance, lyric poets in Ancient Greece would perform their works by the accompaniment of the lyre, and the oldest collection of Chinese poetry, the Shijing, were songs. From a technical viewpoint, it makes sense how closely knit these two fields would be. Both have rhythm and rhyme, a key to making them memorable. They affect people each day through storytelling, religious ceremonies, and even rites of passage. But what are some examples of their relations? 

There are many different ways one can find evidence for this debate. For example, parents would read nursery rhymes to their children. Most of them were lullabies, fables, and poems, accompanied by a sweet tune. The animated poetic language allows for creativity to run free, providing a highly imaginative means for children to view and connect to the world. Thus, making our society easier to grasp for younger minds. Another interesting angle to look at is the diversity of musical genres that have adapted the work of poets into their compositions. Walt Whitman’s poetry provided a great source of inspiration for generations of classical composers. His work, “That Music Always Round Me,” was performed as Gustav Holst’s “Walt Whitman Overture Op. 7” in 1899 (If you would like to see more connections between Whitman’s poems and musical influences, click here). Another representation is how Emily Dickinson’s poems proved appreciative of music and rhythm. Praising the minds of artists and later inspiring jazz works. Her poem “All Overgrown by Cunning Moss” got arranged into 2013, “Overgrown” R&B, and an electronic song by James Blake. 

In Dickenson’s work “Musicians Wrestle Everywhere,” she says that poets and musicians alike extract from experiences and surroundings their tunes, rhythms, and harmonies. They are not merely transcribing events but are hearing the unheard nonexistent music. She argues that music is all around us. If only we care to stop and listen. She mentions how some believe composers are motivated by the “music of spheres” or some choir of angels. But Dickenson is skeptical, unsure of the legitimacy of these claims. So how is music created according to the poem if not by imitation, transcription, or ancestral angels? “I think it’s that new life,” Dickinson exclaims. Life, creation, poetry, and music happen. Same as the changing of seasons or the blooming of life in Spring. Everything has a purpose for being there. 

Poems may function well as lyrics and provide great inspiration for musical compositions, but does it work the other way around? Can music get easily adapted into poetry? It may be difficult since the structure of lyrics can be specific to the song, and repetition occurs frequently. Whether listening to music or a poem, the power of words is fascinating in the impact of a perfect turn or phrase. The arts are enchanting and have a lot in common. Perhaps the walls that separate the fields aren’t as rigid as they’re perceived.

~ Noor