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The
Orpheus Complex The
story goes: Orpheus, son of
the muse Calliope and the god Apollo, was so musically gifted that he
was able to entrance gods, humans and animals alike with the sound of
his lyre. He was creating a universal language that had
the power to unite all beings. Orpheus
was in love with his wife Eurydice and everything could have been fine
if… she hadn’t suddenly died, bitten by a poisonous snake while running
away from an unwelcome suitor. The
heartbroken Orpheus took his lyre to the gates of Hell and played for
the gods. His piece was so beautiful that they allowed
him to bring Eurydice back from the dead, but on one condition: he could not look back at her. This was a rather cruel and deceitful plan
from the gods, because they knew very well that Orpheus was so in love
that it would be impossible for him not to look at Eurydice – even just
to see that she was actually there.
So he lost her for the second time, and had to blame himself
for it this time, and experience the ultimate depth of despair. Finally
he was destroyed by Bacchus whom he had forgotten to honor – but actually
Bacchus did him a favor by giving him a way out. Following
are elements in this myth that I relate to the Orpheus complex: The
Gift: Orpheus is enlightened, he has the gift.
He can channel universal forces through his music, but there
is a responsibility attached to such a gift and that’s why he is always
dealing with the powers that be. Having the gift is like a curse, in a lot of
ways. But it is a privilege. Negativity:
The gift of music can trigger the arrows of jealousy – as represented
by the unwelcome suitor and the poisonous snake.
I am sure many of my colleagues also have experienced the bite. Power
versus influence: Orpheus is able to move the gods, but cannot persuade
them. This means that music
can only alter consciousness. The
power of music affects the mental and emotional planes but does not
have direct results on the plane of action.
Detachment:
Why was Orpheus not allowed to look back at Eurydice? This metaphor is very important as it relates
to the attachment to the music-making power. There is a danger of being
attached to what music can bring along with it, in its outer manifestations
- name and fame – and eventually the music suffers, it becomes artificial
and enters the realm of pretense. To
try to exercise the power over the material world is like Orpheus losing
Eurydice for the second time. In
order to carry on, Orpheus had to have enough detachment to not look
at Eurydice. In order to make good music, one has to exercise
detachment from what can be gained/lost from the presentation of the
work. Sublimation:
Why does Orpheus lose Eurydice?
This metaphor means that when making music, emotions must be
sublimated, not transmitted as raw material.
Some styles of music are based entirely on that raw expression,
such as punk rock and hip hop, but the Orpheus complex is about the
more spiritual forms of musical expression. Despair: Orpheus goes to the gates of hell
to play for the gods. This is
the kind of desperate effort that is required whenever trying to make
music for its own sake. It takes
a superhuman effort to get a project completed – especially during the
current cultural devaluation in the U.S.
There is energy in despair and surprisingly it can be drawn upon
to move ahead. Wisdom: Orpheus’ fall from grace is echoed
in every musician’s experience, dealing with the unpredictable, fickle
powers that preside over their lives, all with very little logic. It
is Bacchus’ anger that finally destroys Orpheus.
Bacchus is the god of wine, and by extension of drugs of all
sorts, which can be the musician’s Nemesis - in experiencing unavoidable
career ups and downs and the unpredictability of survival as an artist,
there is a temptation to resort to escapism. Orpheus
has a responsibility to honor the gift, not in a selfish way, not in
a vulgar way, to use it for his own benefit, but in a universal, channeling,
sharing way. The fragile new
musical work can easily be destroyed by the mere lack of support from
the Powers that Be, by the jealousy of less gifted souls who can become
frustrated critics, by the weakness of addictions, or by the temptation
of fame. So if you experience the Orpheus complex, as a musician and composer,
the most important effort yet is to protect yourself and your work from
the chaotic interplay of inharmonious forces. |
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Copyright
Elodie Lauten 2007
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