10/17/24
Counterpoint on Love
Counterpoint is a the relationship of two or more simultaneous musical lines that are harmonically interdependent yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour. Parallel movement is where the two lines move in the same direction, contrary is when they move in opposite directions, and oblique is when one stays the same and the other one moves.
In Bridges of Madison County, lies one of my favorite quotes: “Like two solitary birds flying the great prairies by celestial reckoning, all of these years and lifetimes we have been moving toward one another”. We are like two musical lines, with such different melodies and rhythm, yet by some chance of fate, established a harmony. It is beautiful, but also quite saddening. It is called counterpoint because both voices will never land on the same note again. Unless it is a harmonic resolution, but who knows when that will come.
Parallel is where we fall in love with other people, observing and congratulating each other from a distance. Contrary is where we attempt to forget about one another, searching in different places and with different people, only to drift further apart. Oblique is where one person remains deeply in love while the other has moved on.
Counterpoint melodies, tugging at my heartstring.