What To Do 

If  I Am Not The Mood......... 

To Create That Is

“A self-respecting artist must not fold his hands on the pretext that he is not in the mood.” Tchaikovsky

What do  Tchaikovsky, Jack White and Nick Cave all have in common? Each, at some moment in their creative history has spoken or written about the process of being creative, on inspiration, or the lack thereof, and the benefits of straight up hard work. What we  law people call "work ethic"

One of the beautiful opportunities studying and researching music, composers and artists provides is that it offers insight in the artist's mind, and allows one to learn from his or her creative process. Sometimes his creative process is so beyond what one conceive of the word "artist" is brought to life through the sheer demonstration of of what can not be attained by the simple or common man.

Other times, the artist offers a crosswalk between the genius of who she or he is and the common man that allow the audience to just barely touch or grasp the process of creation and it is that process that inspires the audience, it is his or her work ethic and what it has produced that is amazing.

All of this reminded me of a letter Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote to his the woman who made it possible for him to make music. He wrote Nadezhda von Meck, dated March 17th, 1878, and found in the 1905 volume The Life & Letters of Pete Ilich Tchaikovsky (public domain):

Do not believe those who try to persuade you that composition is only a cold exercise of the intellect. The only music capable of moving and touching us is that which flows from the depths of a composer’s soul when he is stirred by inspiration. There is no doubt that even the greatest musical geniuses have sometimes worked without inspiration. This guest does not always respond to the first invitation. We must always work, and a self-respecting artist must not fold his hands on the pretext that he is not in the mood. If we wait for the mood, without endeavouring to meet it half-way, we easily become indolent and apathetic. We must be patient, and believe that inspiration will come to those who can master their disinclination.
A few days ago I told you I was working every day without any real inspiration. Had I given way to my disinclination, undoubtedly I should have drifted into a long period of idleness. But my patience and faith did not fail me, and to-day I felt that inexplicable glow of inspiration of which I told you; thanks to which I know beforehand that whatever I write to-day will have power to make an impression, and to touch the hearts of those who hear it. I hope you will not think I am indulging in self-laudation, if I tell you that I very seldom suffer from this disinclination to work. I believe the reason for this is that I am naturally patient. I have learnt to master myself, and I am glad I have not followed in the steps of some of my Russian colleagues, who have no self-confidence and are so impatient that at the least difficulty they are ready to throw up the sponge. This is why, in spite of great gifts, they accomplish so little, and that in an amateur way.

Here is Jack White, echoing — unwittingly, no doubt — Tchaikovsky:

Inspiration and work ethic — they ride right next to each other…. Not every day you’re gonna wake up and the clouds are gonna part and rays from heaven are gonna come down and you’re gonna write a song from it. Sometimes, you just get in there and just force yourself to work, and maybe something good will come out.