Control

04 Jan, 2021

MUSIC Information:

• Music and Life
• D Major/B minor
• 48 Measures
• Cello and Piano
• 2:51 min
• 4 Pages

"Of all men’s miseries the bitterest is this: to know so much and to have control over nothing." — Herodotus (The Histories)

AN ESSENTIAL PART

Feeling in control is an essential part of life. Without it, even in small amounts, we often perceive that something is wrong. It does not matter where we come from, how profound our background is, or what we've been through_ we all want some level of control. Sometimes that means control over ourselves, our surroundings, worst of all, to control others.

The channels we use to gain control are remarkable. Some people rely heavily on deception to obtain what they want. Over time, they become skilled manipulators, with no hesitation in lying or twisting the truth. Others apply cheap tricks_ unrefined methods to acquire personal gain.

When lies and tricks no longer work, some resort to extortion, intimidation, and threats, spreading fear among those around them. This unhealthy way of gaining control over others is as old as human civilization_ if one can even call the act of tormenting others "civilized".

CONTROL TACTICS

Why is control so important in human lives?, How much of our time and effort we are willing to invest just to secure a sense of it? As it turns out, we use control tactics all the time_ even without realizing it. Some of these tactics may seem small, but we rely on them constantly_as if the need to control is built into the way we live.

The silent treatment to your mate
Never being understood by your colleagues
Expecting everybody around you to read your mind
Not willing to agree to anything

CHAOS SURROUNDS ORDER

We often underestimate how much chaos surrounds order, and how closely tied the two really are. We tend to focus our attention on one or the other, rarely both. And when is chaos we focus on, we panic. We might freeze, staying inactive and hopping it will go away, or we might do everything in our power to take control_ no matter the cost!

This piece of music, written in B Minor, reminds me that on any given day life can feel like heaven or like hell. When things don't go our way, we may even throw a tantrum. The music captures the balance between chaos and order. Its darker unsettled tone evokes the moments when life slips out of control.

When you listen to it, be prepare to feel like a witness of life itself_ messy, unpredictable, but with a glimpse of harmony. There are passages of calm and resolution in the middle of the turbulence_just like life itself. In the end, the music points out that even amid chaos, it is always possible to regain control.

WOUNDED ANIMAL

With this composition I'm inviting you to paused and reflect on the out of control moments_ the ones that often lead to self-pity, making us sob inconsolably and leave us feeling like wounded animals. By reflecting on our own helplessness, we begin to understand that we are not alone in it_ and that even in the moments when life feels beyond control, there is meaning to be found.

At the end of the day, we hope to gather enough courage and wait for the thick clouds to dissipate. Gaining control once more, as we plan to return to our normal lives before it's too late _ before we are swallowed by a storm so big we'd rather disappear than face it. But the question remains: why do we fight for control? Because, when we don't have it, even in small amounts, somebody else will.