FF, your description of what playing chamber music is like was absolutely sublime! <sigh> And it described perfectly what I love about choir singing, especially in a small ensemble. When you know the music really well and you can listen to each other and react in the moment as the music flows.
Of course the way you describe a chamber music ensemble (and in jazz, too, as you point out-- we watched the movie "Bird" last night about the jazz musician Charlie Parker) IMHO is exactly how a relationship should work, too. (You knew I was going to say that, didn't you? ). Especially this part:
Quote: When playing together, you no longer count and focus on what you're doing,instead, it becomes literally, a conversation, where you react to the other's playing. You know the notes well enough to know what you are doing, but you can't be quite sure what your partner is going to do that night, he might make a ritard, or a slight diminuendo, or just phrase a certain way, and you react, then you do something, and he reacts, and you forget what your fingers are doing and just listen.
If the Assumption of Good Will is present in the R, this definitely can happen. And the part about how the other players can point out things about your playing that you can't see-- that happens in a R where there is trust and kindness.
One of the first things I remember posting on this board was a thing comparing good sex to two musicians or singers (or I guess, dancers, too) performing a duet... supporting, enhancing each other, while shifting the focus from one to the other.
I believe this can only happen when both sides pledge to be truthful and kind. Then you can be open, take risks, get honest, loving feedback, and the music can really flow.
My guitar playing is truly rudimentary; I've only been studying for about three years-- classical guitar. My bf plays the guitar, but more of a rock/jazz style. Sometimes I'll play one of my simple etudes or something and he'll improvise along with me-- what a treat!
). Especially this part:
