Face It

[EmpNapoleon]

Is there a particular face you wear at a concert?  For example, looking around the audience, I see many serious, almost dead, definitely not animated faces.  Does your jaw drop in awe?  Do you smile more often listening to Bach than Berlioz?  Do you fear removing your tragic mask?  Is smiling possible during Adagios? 

Hopefully, not many will remember their faces at concerts.  I'm self-conscious (the excuse being that I'm a psychology major), so I keep a close eye on myself during a concert when I should be moving beyond myself.  Sometimes I feel the lion making a face in me, sometimes the child, and sometimes, continuing Nietzsche's metaphor of the spirit, I make the face of the burdened camel.

But it's hard getting in the "zone" when the people behind you are talking about a cake recipe or their social group.  Empty talk before a concert could be more annoying than obsessive applauding.  Nevertheless, the musicians are playing for those who have ears, and I don't think I'm in that select group yet.  I need to give my eyes a rest at concerts.  Hopefully, next time, I will leave myself outside the door.

[jochanaan]

You have energy to spare for such things, my Emperor?  At my age, I don't; all my energy goes into listening.

[LaciDeeLeBlanc]

Interesting thoughts...

At a concert I assume nobody is looking at me, I can allow myself to make human faces.  Sometimes I'll gasp and mutter to myself, "Oh, wow." Sometimes I just can't stop from smiling.  I usually sit up absolutely straight, and lean forward.  Why would I care if anyone else is looking at me?