The song Fables of Faubus begins with a musical introduction that starts with slow deep instrumental tones that seem repetitive in a manner that reflects the both the repetition accustomed to everyday life yet with a tinge of angst as it provides a subtle hint at the struggle of facing these conditions. The relative normalcy along with the heavy instrumental background signifies the desire to escape and find a tranquility or balance within society, just as Sonny constantly sought his own place within society and a way that he could himself bring his music to a position in which it unites with who he is and wants to be. This opening contains rising melodies that constantly subside into silence that are then picked up with saxophones, this melody connects with the multiple attempts Sonny made in trying to follow in line with what his brother wanted of him and also represents the lengths at which his brother went to prevent his own brother from facing any kind of misfortune. However after a few minutes, the tempo begins to rise and cascade into various noises overlapping representing the fury, frustration, and panic that comes when least expected in life, just as Sonny was dealing with the frenzied and subsequent moments of failure with his ditching class, his addictions, and the weight of the expectations the slowly came crashing down once his past actions caught up with him. All this culminates then once the storm passes the instruments begin to slowly rise up again in a more calm melody representing a the period of stabilization which I feel reflects Sonny's return from Jail and reintegration within his brother's life, but as the stabilization occurs and the instruments return to the everyday melody, the lone saxophone enters with its piercing tone as a reminder of the incompleteness that Sonny feels at that moment, the realization that he's still been walking the in the same circle.
The drums which have maintained the tempo thus far are the one instrument that never truly fades in this song and are what dictate what speed the current situations are moving forth, something that is similar the narrator's parents who have come to influence his actions repeatedly through the flashbacks that remind him of his duties and of the things he has failed to do for his brother. Each time they speed up, is another moment that the narrator is reminiscing about how he wants to protect his brother but cannot realistically shelter him from everything in life, after these moments within the song there are short moments of dissonance in which the drums and saxophone are going at their own tempos which represents both brothers after the war, unknowing of how they should act, both strangers to each other and yet longing to understand what the other is motivated by.
The final three minutes of the song culminate just as the event of Sonny's concert does, isolated noises and the heat of the moment stirring within the instruments, an attempt to highlight emotions out of the same melody that occurred from the every day life opening, a method of bringing power and importance to these emotions that everyone has felt and recognizes, the bold saxophone coming out and the tempo of the drums increasing with the frustration of the moment, the anxiety, and then the climax of understanding. Once that understanding occurs the altered version of the opening melody occurs, this represents the narrator's understanding of not only Sonny and how he has felt throughout the past, but of his own emotions and how although they may have seemed different, Sonny has gone through the same emotions and feelings, not only Sonny, but everyone in the community, united by these feelings are brought together in unity.
An important feature of this song is its lack of lyrics, which I feel is what really allows for this to sync in with Sonn'y Blues because its all about the toiling work and suppressed emotions felt by the masses, the internal struggle and the silent screams that pain people who want to find a form of release, but can't find their own voice and thus feel powerless in that way. Not realizing the amount of power that can truly come from the silence that they fear as weakness and confusion.
I like your description of the tempo and rhythm of the song Fables of Faubus, since it appears to the song is mainly instrumental. Sometimes music without lyrics can convey so much with its crescendos and swells. It allows the mind to focus on the instruments playing, picking out each one playing at different times.
ReplyDeleteHi Parweez! I picked this song too, unknowingly, so I had to see if we had similar ideas when it came to our analyses: and it appears we somewhat do! First and foremost, this song is one of the best jazz songs I have ever heard. I’m listening to it as I write, haha! Secondly, and more importantly, your analysis of the song and the way in which it relates to the plot of Sonny’s Blues is heavy in the analysis of the music. I think your understanding of the repetition and deep tones is one that many people aren’t able to discover and see, and I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. You follow a very cyclical pathway, and I think it’s interesting to follow your thinking: the idea that the music itself and the instruments being used work to represent the perpetual disappointment by which Sonny’s brother felt and conversely which Sonny felt when he was unable to please his brother: it’s a disappointment that only music can mimic, and you captured this by measuring the repetitiveness of the song. My interpretation of the absence of words was definitely different from yours, in that I thought it worked well because it mimicked Sonny, who was more of a background figure in his dialogue than anything. I saw Sonny as similar, if not exactly like, his music: the music spoke for him, and I think it is representative of the way that Sonny feels at the end of the story. The internal struggle aspect, by which you highlighted with your conclusion paragraph: and yes, I agree - silence is just as power as noise, in many instances. Altogether, fabulous job and I still find it funny that we chose the same song! :)
ReplyDelete