Free Play: Improvisation in Life and ArtFree Play is about the inner sources of spontaneous creation. It is about why we create and what we learn when we do. It is about the flow of unhindered creative energy: the joy of making art in all its varied forms. An international bestseller and beloved classic, Free Play is an inspiring and provocative book, directed toward people in any field who want to contact, honor, and strengthen their own creative powers. It reveals how inspiration arises within us, how that inspiration may be blocked, derailed or obscured, and how finally it can be liberated—how we can be liberated—to speak or sing, write or paint, dance or play, with our own authentic voice. Stephen Nachmanovitch, a pioneer in free improvisation, integrates material from a wide variety of sources among the arts, sciences, and spiritual traditions of humanity, drawing on unusual quotes, amusing and illuminating anecdotes, and original metaphors. The whole enterprise of improvisation in life and art, of recovering free play and awakening creativity, is about being true to ourselves and our visions. Free Play brings us into direct, active contact with boundless creative energies that we may not even know we had. |
From inside the book
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Page iv
... voices , promotes free speech , and creates a vibrant culture . Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing , scanning , or distributing any part of it in any form ...
... voices , promotes free speech , and creates a vibrant culture . Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing , scanning , or distributing any part of it in any form ...
Page x
... voice of the oldest man was heard from the back of the room: “Like a god!” The next day, as this master was packing to leave, the musicians approached him and asked how long it would take a skilled player to learn the new flute. “Years ...
... voice of the oldest man was heard from the back of the room: “Like a god!” The next day, as this master was packing to leave, the musicians approached him and asked how long it would take a skilled player to learn the new flute. “Years ...
Page xii
... . When he finished , there was silence for a long moment . Then the voice of the oldest man was heard , speaking softly from the back of the room : " Like a god ! " It's a Mystery Improvisation , it is a mystery . xii A NEW FLUTE.
... . When he finished , there was silence for a long moment . Then the voice of the oldest man was heard , speaking softly from the back of the room : " Like a god ! " It's a Mystery Improvisation , it is a mystery . xii A NEW FLUTE.
Page 2
... blocked , derailed , or obscured by certain unavoidable facts of life , and how it is finally liberated— how we are finally liberated — to speak or sing , write or paint, with our own authentic voice. Such questions lead us 2 FREE PLAY.
... blocked , derailed , or obscured by certain unavoidable facts of life , and how it is finally liberated— how we are finally liberated — to speak or sing , write or paint, with our own authentic voice. Such questions lead us 2 FREE PLAY.
Page 3
Improvisation in Life and Art Stephen Nachmanovitch. paint, with our own authentic voice. Such questions lead us directly into territory where many religions and phi- losophies, as well as the actual experience of practicing artists ...
Improvisation in Life and Art Stephen Nachmanovitch. paint, with our own authentic voice. Such questions lead us directly into territory where many religions and phi- losophies, as well as the actual experience of practicing artists ...
Contents
15 | |
The Vehicle | 24 |
The Stream | 31 |
The Muse | 37 |
Mind at Play | 44 |
Disappearing | 55 |
Sex and Violins | 63 |
Practice | 72 |
Vicious Circles | 141 |
The Judging Spectre | 149 |
Surrender | 158 |
Patience | 166 |
Ripening | 172 |
Eros and Creation | 185 |
Quality | 193 |
Art for Lifes Sake | 205 |
The Power of Limits | 85 |
The Power of Mistakes | 97 |
Playing Together | 104 |
Form Unfolding | 113 |
Childhoods End | 127 |
Heartbreakthrough | 216 |
Afterword | 225 |
Illustrations | 235 |
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Common terms and phrases
activity addiction art forms artist artwork audience Bach beauty become Beethoven blocks Blue Cliff Record body breakthrough bricolage child comes consciousness create creation creative process dance deeper e. e. cummings emotional emptiness energy everything experience exploration express fear feel flow flute free improvisation free play Galumphing Gregory Bateson hand ideas Igor Stravinsky imagination improvisation inner inspiration instrument intuition judging spectre kind koan learning lîla limits listen living look material matter means meditation ment mind muse musician mysterious Nachmanovitch nature ourselves P. D. Q. Bach painting pattern performance person piece player poetry practice resonance rhythm ripen samadhi sense sound spiritual spontaneous Stéphane Grappelli string structure surprises surrender T. S. Eliot technique temenos theater things tion tune unconscious violin voice whole William Blake words writing Yehudi Menuhin