I wasn't sure if this fit more in 'Poetry News' but I think it's more a jumping off point for discussions? I don't know.
I was looking for poetry related news and read this article which discusses the release of a jazz album composed by Caroline Davis. After her father passed, she started reading poetry he read in his youth and this inspired her to compose her new album which, according to the article, even includes some key spoken word passages.
I admit I know nothing about jazz but in the article, there's a video of one of her pieces being performed and, while it's not my cup of tea, I was struck by how poignant the movement of the music was. I hope that makes a bit of sense. I'm not a fan of music without lyrics but I really felt the movement in the music and I started thinking about how captivating art of any genre is. I could just as easily use that music as a prompt on Saturday and ask you to write how it makes you feel or what it reminds you of.
It was a nice thought that someone might read one of my poems and be inspired to write music or paint or sculpt or choreograph a dance.
Do you know of any other pieces of art inspired by another genre? I'm really insterested to learn more about how interconnected we are.
Jazz and poetry have a special relationship, thanks mostly to the beats. Kerouac and Langston Hughes (who's birthday it is tomorrow) really vibed with jazz!
Sophie and I went to a jazz and poetry night whilst she was here where a poet named Tomara Goddard improvised some spoken word, to an improvised jazz backing! It was amazing!
I love throwing some jazz backing to some of my poems on YouTube too!
Hey! i know that a lot of songwriters are inspired or influence by other art forms. For example, the song “Days of Insanity” by JS Ondara was inspired by John Mulaney’s “Horse in a Hospital” bit.
Myles Kennedy said he was inspired by Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five” when writing lyrics for ”The Dissident.”
And one more: There’s a songwriter I enjoy named Joe Goodkin who wrote an acoustic folk opera retelling of The Odyssey (on Spotify if you wanna check it out)
It’s easy as an artist to forget how important consumption is. The more art you consume, the more you feed your creative muscles :)