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Joys and Perplexities: Selected Poems
"Book design by Lou Harrison and Carter Scholz. Interior decorations by Lou Harrison. Typography by Carter Scholz. Jacket design by Jonathan Williams"--Title page verso.
- GenresPoetry
126 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1984
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July 1, 2021
This volume is a collection of poems by composer and musician Lou Harrison, written throughout five decades and in many parts of the world. The title is apt, as Harrison, who passed away in 2003, took delight in love, friendship, music, writing, travel, and classical study, but was deeply disturbed by the pollution of nature and governments' preparations for nuclear war. As in his musical compositions, the joys far outweigh the perplexities. This book provides a peek into the mind and private life of the composer.
The book starts off a bit slow for those of us not well acquainted with Greek and Roman mythology, though the very first poem, on his teaching, gave me insight into why he welcomed Gamelan students (such as myself) into his home to learn his music even when well into his 70s. Many of the poems are written for specific friends for occasions such as birthdays and as accompaniments to gifts. Life partner Bill Colvig is a frequent subject. Bill was a mountaineer and nature lover, and many of my favorite poems are of times that they shared in nature. Lou Harrison enjoyed men and openly appreciates their physical forms, yet is whimsical rather than lewd in his portrayals. In his poems about destruction of nature and the bomb, by contrast, he employs crude and hard-hitting language.
Harrison’s own pen and ink drawings accompany the poems. Subjects range from architectural and proportional studies to nature-influenced patterns to allegorical nudes of both sexes. Each illustration section allows us time to pause and reflect upon a group of poems, much like interludes in his musical compositions. Pluma, the beautiful rounded serif font in which the type is set, is one of Harrison’s own calligraphic works.
Reading this book is a wonderful way to remember Lou, or for those who have enjoyed his music to learn more about him. With subjects too numerous to mention, this book has something for everyone. Californians will recognize much of the landscape in the poems—my husband thinks of his Oleanders poem every time we see/smell them on the freeway dividers in summer. And no one writes as elegantly about music as Lou does. Give the book a try if you enjoy poetry and/or modern classical music.
The book starts off a bit slow for those of us not well acquainted with Greek and Roman mythology, though the very first poem, on his teaching, gave me insight into why he welcomed Gamelan students (such as myself) into his home to learn his music even when well into his 70s. Many of the poems are written for specific friends for occasions such as birthdays and as accompaniments to gifts. Life partner Bill Colvig is a frequent subject. Bill was a mountaineer and nature lover, and many of my favorite poems are of times that they shared in nature. Lou Harrison enjoyed men and openly appreciates their physical forms, yet is whimsical rather than lewd in his portrayals. In his poems about destruction of nature and the bomb, by contrast, he employs crude and hard-hitting language.
Harrison’s own pen and ink drawings accompany the poems. Subjects range from architectural and proportional studies to nature-influenced patterns to allegorical nudes of both sexes. Each illustration section allows us time to pause and reflect upon a group of poems, much like interludes in his musical compositions. Pluma, the beautiful rounded serif font in which the type is set, is one of Harrison’s own calligraphic works.
Reading this book is a wonderful way to remember Lou, or for those who have enjoyed his music to learn more about him. With subjects too numerous to mention, this book has something for everyone. Californians will recognize much of the landscape in the poems—my husband thinks of his Oleanders poem every time we see/smell them on the freeway dividers in summer. And no one writes as elegantly about music as Lou does. Give the book a try if you enjoy poetry and/or modern classical music.
Displaying 1 of 1 review