As we prepare for the Big Turn Music Festival in the Red Wing shop (join us!) we are reflecting on the notion that art inspires music. There are examples of this throughout history. Here were a few we found interesting!
Goya and Grenados
The Parasol, Francisco De Goya
Enrique Grenados (1867-1916) was a Spanish composer who’s masterpiece Goyescas was composed as an expression of the paintings of fellow Spaniard Francisco De Goya (1746-1828). Both artists were influenced by the Spanish wars, nationalism, and the Romantic era of art and music. Goyescas was originally written as a piano suite in 1911, and later adapted into an opera which debuted at The Met in New York City in 1916. (Source. Source.)
Hokusai and Debussy
The Great Wave, Katsushika Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is the woodblock artist of the famed Under the Wave off Kanagawa, aka The Great Wave. It is suggested in the art world that this work inspired Claude Debussy’s (1862-1918) also famed La Mer. Author Charlotte Landru-Chandès stated of La Mer, “The work is unquestionably pictorial in nature.” Debussy had actually aspired to be a painter! Though he never took that artistic course, Debussy’s work as an art inspired composer has stood the test of time, as does Hokusai’s Mount Fuji series. (Source.)
Seurat and Sondheim/Lapine
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Georges-Pierre Seurat
Georges-Pierre Seurat (1859-1891) is noted for his development and application of the pointillism technique, seen in his most famous work A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. This painting inspired an entire Tony Award winning musical, Sunday in the Park with George by Stephan Sondheim (1930-) and James Lapine (1949-). The entire production focuses on a “fictional” George Seurat and his immersion into both an outer and inner world that shapes the painting. (Source. Source.)
Van Gogh and Dutilleux
Henri Dutilleux’s (1916-2013) orchestral work Timbres, espace, mouvement was subtitled La nuit etoilée (The Starry Night). This reflects his inspiration which was drawn directly from Vincent Van Gogh’s (1853-1890) renowned work of the same name. Dutilleux’s choice of prominent solo instruments for his composition (wind and percussion) “represents the movements of the clouds and the light of the stars and the moon.” (Source. Source.)
Van Gogh and McLean
Van Gogh had an eclectic 20th century fan club, with Don McLean (1945-) composing a hit song who’s lyrics tell the story of Van Gogh’s struggle with psychosis and society. Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) is somewhat of an ode and certainly a validation of Van Gogh’s under-appreciated brilliance as an artist. The song references a number of Van Gogh’s works as well as his artistic style and process. (Source.)
Happy Holidays from Valerie, John, and Clare. We are grateful for your business and friendship, and look forward to seeing you soon! In the meantime, sing along…
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…my precious family memories beautifully preserved and ready for display.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…my sports fantasies framed!!
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…a Tiffany style lamp and an exquisitely framed mirror to decorate my space.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…my priceless child’s artwork to remind me how special life can be.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…a beautiful Motawi art tile, handmade in Michigan. These tiles are mountable and framable, or simply ready to display on an easel.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…an acrylic art print by a local artist. Stop in to see what we have for sale, OR ask us to make you a custom #acrylicprint!
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…my cell phone photos immortalized as art for my walls! We print ready to hang, high quality gallery wraps from your images, or choose your art online at www.fineartprintsondemand.com.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…my special mementos displayed so I can see them every day.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…original artwork. We have ready-to-hang pieces as well as original acrylic paintings, sculpture, and signed/numbered art prints for sale.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…a kitschy piece of artwork that brings me happy feelings, and reminds me that someone is thinking of me…
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…some high quality ready-made frames that won’t fall apart, are backed by a quality guarantee, and will preserve my holiday photos.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…a fantastic gift certificate so I can have some FUN framing and printing with the ONLY #masterframer in Minnesota!
