But
how could they get the message across diplomatically to their powerful patron?
Haydn
decided to add some symbolic theatricality to the symphony he was working on.
He composed a quiet section for the finale that required its players to finish
their parts at different times. One after the other, once their parts in the
symphony were finished, the relevant players snuffed out the candles on their
music stands, quietly left their seats, and then disappeared into the shadows
of the surrounding palace. This continued until only two violin players were
left, Joseph Haydn himself and the Concert Master Alois Luigi Tomasini.
This
musical theatricality distilled the general feelings of weariness experienced by all the Prince’s musicians into a more specific awareness of the
problems experienced by two of the most gifted and valuable amongst them. It focused the
Prince’s attention upon Joseph’s and Alois’s weariness and the difficulty they
were experiencing in encouraging the musicians to ‘play their parts’. (It is
interesting to note that the day after the 1st performance of this ‘Farewell
Symphony’ the palace was closed-up for the winter and all the musicians left
for their homes.)
We can
gain an enhanced appreciation of issues, problems and their key consequences by
exploring the impact they may have on specific valued individuals. The next
time you are faced with a challenging issue or problem try to narrow the focus
from the general to the personally specific. What effects, for example, would a
problem have on the day to day lives of your family, close friends or valued
colleagues? What would be the consequences of these effects for any others
involved, including yourself? How would you feel about these possible effects
and consequences?
The
above approach can also be used for testing out solutions. How would proposed
solutions affect your family, close friends or valued colleagues? How would
these people respond to the solutions? Would you be happy with the results? If not,
what other solutions would work better?
Focusing
on valued individuals and exploring how problems and proposed solutions could
affect them can bring crucial, personally hard-hitting issues to the fore.
So,
the next time you are faced with a difficult issue, make it personal!
