2nd Annual Challenge of Music

2nd Annual Challenge of Music

It is time for the 2nd Annual Challenge of Music hosted by the most awesome Erin, Treasures Found, Inspiration is Everywhere.

The rules for this challenge was:

Find a piece of instrumental music that speaks to you soul. The goal is to find a piece of music without any choral accompaniment, so that you have the freedom to interpret the colors, textures, shapes, movements and images that it evokes. YOU get to tell the story!

Create something of your choice - jewelry, accessory or some other artistic representation - that takes us on the journey of this piece of music. I am opening this challenge up to any artistic interpretation. Whatever way this music moves you, follow its lead!

The minute I read that the Challenge was instrumental music I knew what piece I wanted to use.  Just so you know I was a band geek (marching band, instrumental band, pep band, symphonic band) and I love classical music.  I have a whole slew of music that speaks to me, but the piece I wanted to use is something I have listened to since I was about 7 years old - "Music Box Dancer" by Frank Mills.

I am the one on the right (mom says it looks like
I am full of it and I know it)

Frank Mills is a Canadian pianist and recording artist. He released the song "Music Box Dancer" in 1974 but it wasn't a big hit.  The song was re-released in 1978 when it because a hit in Canada and then Bob Parker, in Nashville began playing the song over the closing credits of the newscast.  The Nashville DJs quickly latched onto the song and the album was a hit.  The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979.  This song was Mill's only U.S. Top 40 hit. (Wikipedia)

The reason I chose "Music Box Dancer" is because I danced to this song for my one and only ballet performance in 1979 or 1980.  I remember listening and practicing to this song over and over.  I remember not only listening to the song for practice but for pleasure - though you would think I would be sick of listening to it from practice.

To me this song means freedom and fun.  I remember having a lot of fun with ballet, tap dance and gymnastics as a child.  I know I wasn't the best dancer but I just remember the joy I felt to just be free and move.  I think that is what I feel when I listen to this song as an adult - it brings back the joy I felt in dancing.  That joy that I wish I could capture as an adult - the freedom of dance (which I can't even dance now).  When I listen to this music now, I see colors in motion - bright and happy colors - that go in time with the tapping of my feet.

So, that is what I wanted to bring to this piece - joy in motion and color.  So, without further ado - our piece for the Challenge of Music.

Poetry in Motion - name of our piece

I found my tutu (which mom made) and my ballet slippers.  How in the world was I ever that tiny????

I wanted a pendant to show the joy a dancer finds in dancing and being in motion.  I wanted to bring in the colors that I see when I listen to that song.  I think mom and I did a great job trying to interpret what I see and feel when I hear "Music Box Dancer".

I love how I was able to enamel her dress the variegated colors from white, yellow, orange to red.  Mom and I used the ribbons to convey motion from the dancer and the song.

The lampwork beads I made I wanted to try and show motion again.  I did that by using a base bead of white, frit on top and then feathered the frit.  We used accents of pearls and pink Czech beads because I wanted a little bit of pink in the piece for my tutu.

Here is a close up of the pendant - doesn't she just look so free.

So you know what the song sounds like here are two video's of "Music Box Dancer".

This second one is a longer version - a Remix of "Music Box Dancer"

Thanks for checking out our 2nd Annual Challenge of Music.  Below you will find the list of other participants:

Erin Prais-Hintz
Alenka Obid
Ali McCarthy
Alicia Marinache
Amy Severino
Amy Grass
Carolyn Lawson
Cece Cormier
Cynthia Riggs
Ema Kilroy
Emanda Johnson
Emma Todd
Erin Kenny
Evelyn Shelby
Evie and Beth McCord
Gerd Andersson
Holly Westfall
Jennifer Justman
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jess Green
Judy Campbell
Karla Morgan
Kay Thomerson
Kristina Johansson
Lola Surwillo
Lynn White
Malin de Koning
Mallory Hoffman
Mary K McGraw
Melissa Meman
Melissa Trudinger
Michelle Escano
Michelle Bourbonniere
Michelle Heim
Michelle Mach
Molly Alexander
Molly Schaller
Monique Urquhart
Niky Sayers
Pam Farren
Rebecca Anderson
Sally Russick
Sharon Palac
Sharon Driscoll
Susan Kennedy
Tari Kahrs
Tracy Stillman
Veralynne Malone