Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Kerry's Wednesday Challenge ~ Rhapsody

A Rhapsody in music is a one-movement work that is episodic yet integrated, free-flowing in structure, featuring a range of highly contrasted moods, colour and tonality. An air of spontaneous inspiration and a sense of improvisation make it freer in form than a set of variations.

Rhapsody (noun)

1. Exalted or excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling in speech or writing.
2. A literary work written in an impassioned or exalted style.
3. A state of elated bliss; ecstasy.
4. Music A usually instrumental composition of irregular form that often incorporates improvisation.
5. An ancient Greek epic poem or a portion of one suitable for uninterrupted recitation. 





Closely related to the rhapsody is the term Fantasia.

n. Music
1. A free composition structured according to the composer's fancy.

2. A medley of familiar themes, with variations and interludes.

The term was first applied to music during the 16th century, at first to refer to the imaginative musical "idea" rather than to a particular compositional genre.  With its roots in the art of improvisation, it seldom approximates the textbook rules of any strict musical form, but rather has the sense of "the play of imaginative invention” (as with the impromptu).

Most people will recall the animated Disney movie of that name. According to JustDisney.com the title was selected because it 'means two things, a compositions in which the composer strays from the accepted form, and a potpourri of familiar arts, both apply to the film.' If you would like to watch the Nutcracker Suite clip from the movie, click HERE.


Modern Rhapsody ~ Salvador Dali (1957)
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My challenge today is for us to write a poetic rhapsody. From my reading, I get the impression that anything goes but I suggest the following ideas to get us started:

  • The poem could consist of several parts or variations on a theme.
  • Free verse is preferred over form but it should be structured according to the writer's fancy.
  • Mixed media could be utilized - especially for those who like to include photography or art with their writing.
  • A sense of improvisation is preferable to a piece which is over-worked.
  • The mood should be impassioned or exalted. (Some synonyms for 'rhapsodize' include babble, carry on, declaim, freak out, fume, go bananas, orate, prattle and rage.
  • The content should focus more on the imaginative than the concrete.






26 comments:

LaTonya Baldwin said...

Excited about the challenge. Looking forward to reading and commenting.

Fireblossom said...

Oh, I don't think I could possibly do this challenge. I'm too demure.

Ella said...

I love this challenge! An excuse for me to babble ;D

Thank you Kerry!

Marian said...

wow.

hedgewitch said...

This is really a toothsome challenge, Kerry--and thanks for all the extra guidance, as it could have been very confusing--my first idea of a rhapsody is just an ecstatic gush(not something I'm good at!) but you've managed to put enough meat on the bare bones of the concept to create a variety of thoughts and starting points. Will go stir the cauldron and see what happens.

@Fireblossom: Demure? DEMURE????? *cackles hysterically*

Kerry O'Connor said...

I'm pretty stumped on my own challenge, so I'm very keen to see what everyone else comes up with.

Maude Lynn said...

I just want to see Hedge gush!

Susie Clevenger said...

Ramble I am good at, but making it into something readable we shall see. Fireblossom demure and Hedgewitch gushing, now wouldn't that be something. Thanks for the challenge Kerry!

hedgewitch said...

I'm up ladies and germs. Not easy, but fun. thanks again, Kerry.

@MZ & Susie: Ha! Did my best, but more of a babbling ooze, I think. ;_)

Herotomost said...

Not sure if its really a Rhapsody...but I tried...Hello all!

Hannah said...

I took a fantastical imaginative angle!! AND I had fun...so that's the point...great challenge, Kerry, thank you!!

L. Edgar Otto said...

I keep thinking how the music put down and fixed is nevertheless fresh and spontaneously new. Where do our words come from? The photo with it rather mundane means paving over a dusty road to garages we may rarely use with blacktop...the screen grid shows thru or the tracks of our construction machines. I am not sure these near and far associations free looks into the window of my mind but I am sure looking there is my looking out and what in this moment I see.

Kerry O'Connor said...

Almost midnight here - I'll be back in my morning to read, and hopefully achieve an end product from the idea I'm toying with.

humbird said...

Hello All,
fun idea, ths Kerry, pl. delete #8 old one,and am getting ready for one more...crazy...smiles

LaTonya Baldwin said...

Edgar's is amazing!

Helen said...

I may have met my Waterloo ... oh, I am going to enjoy what the Toads have come up with this time!!!

Margaret said...

Oh... to flit about and write imaginatively in a non-concrete way... I think I failed, but I tried to bring a slightly different image with each stanza although I hung on to a theme... I'd like to try this again, but I have to recover from this one first :) Thanks, Kerry.

grapeling said...

Kerry, this was a hard one, so I just went with what I had, and hopefully people will watch the video and forget what I penned. LOL ~ M

Scarlet said...

Kerry, I couldn't resist your challenge ~ Thank you for the lovely post ~

Grace

Susan said...

American in Paris is my favorite movie! Gosh. I learned to love this rhapsody there. I hope I can write something worthy--something that takes me out of sonnets and back to free verse.

Susan said...

Yes, yes, above, it was the ballet I was thinking of. This, however, that I finally wrote is West Side Story ...

Kerry O'Connor said...

Kay, I'm not quite sure what has happened with your links, as both take us to your home page, and a Weekend Reflections post. I have removed one link, but wait to find out what you want me to do with the other.

Marian said...

i rather hate what i wrote so perhaps it is good that i am so late with this.

Lorna Cahall said...

Writing this way...lifts me out of my recent summer torpor. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Hey Kerry - I don't know if this fits - anyway, been thinking about it. k

Anonymous said...

Took me long enough, but once I got going... yowza! Amy