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shock resistance (see question)
job appraisal
May 16, 2005 08:01
19 yrs ago
English term

melody that brings neighbor into harmony with neighbor

English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
The full sentence is:
Can we claim to have composed the elusive melody that brings neighbor into harmony with neighbor?

Is there any literary (or whatever) allusion (as I suspect)?
Responses
3 +1 my guess is...
3 I don't think so

Discussion

juvera May 16, 2005:
Well, as Apricitas wrote "bringing harmony and goodwill", but the author is not so sure, that our belief in the "elusive melody" and power of global communication is totally justified. It is a very difficult text, and I think the allusion is within.
Non-ProZ.com May 16, 2005:
Thank you for your reply. Of course, I know very well where my passage is from. Unfortunately, it does not help to answer my question. ;)
juvera May 16, 2005:
..to put everything into context. Here is the website of this part: http://www.praxagora.com/stevet/fdnc/ch09.html. Good luck.
juvera May 16, 2005:
..with neighbor?" And he continues: "Whatever that melody may be, it was woefully unsung in the villages of Bosnia, where the people had long been able to talk to each other unimpeded." You would have to read a fair bit of the text...
juvera May 16, 2005:
..The belief, that "all this opportunity to pass messages around just must lead to an era of peace and neighborly understanding". That's where your sentence says: Can we claim to have composed the elusive melody that brings neighbor into harmony...
juvera May 16, 2005:
Your text is from "The Future Does Not Compute: Transcending the Machines in Our Midst" by Stephen L. Talbott. In this chapter he is talking about the "global village", and disputing the cultural effects of global communication on traditional cultures...
Can Altinbay May 16, 2005:
Your final conclusion is exactly right.

Responses

+1
1 hr
Selected

my guess is...

I think it might be a play on words, using the word harmony both in its meaning of good-will between neighbours, as well as in its musical sense.
Are they talking about real music being composed that appeals to a wide range of people, and so people wouldn't object if a neighbour plays it?
Peer comment(s):
agree Alfa Trans (X)
3 days 5 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "A 'melody' in the passage seems to be a methaphor -- of something that influences people so that they begin to show kindness, patience, etc. to each other. But there probably could be some other piece of art or folklore(maybe, a fairy tale?) where such peace-giving melody (now actually a melody) is mentioned. My question is whether there is one or this metaphor was invented by the author of the passage himself."
56 mins

I don't think so

Declined
I'm not overly impressed by the quality of the original sentiment. Musically speaking, melodies don't create harmony - it's the chords or other harmonisation accompanying the melody that create harmony. The melody is the "top line", so to speak, and the harmony is in the other parts (usually). It sounds to me like a trite feel-good statement not written by anyone with any musical knowledge!
Something went wrong...
Comment: "You seem to take things too literally, I'd say. Actually, musical knowledge (though I have some of it) has almost nothing to do with the undeniable fact that a melody _can_ create peace and harmony in human mind and soul. This is what the passage is about."
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