acroyear: (Default)
Joe's Ancient Jottings ([personal profile] acroyear) wrote2003-04-06 05:25 pm
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What is "supernatural", anyways...

Fripp:

Any practice or discipline over a period of years will inevitably develop capacities that may well appear "supernatural" to those who haven't applied themselves in the same way. These "supernatural" abilities are better described as being natural, but only "naturally" available to those who have done the work - those who have practiced & developed & refined their entirely "natural" capacities. Martial arts' masters are uncannily able to sense when they are about to be "attacked". Exceptional group players are able to intuit the moves & intentions of other group members – as if by magic. Exceptional musicians & composers somehow have contact with the directing power of music, as if it were a living presence speaking directly to them, giving guidance & instruction.


None of this I consider supernatural: it merely appears so to someone, like myself, who lacks that developed talent. Paganini was in league with the Devil, right? Otherwise how could he have played violin as he did? Surely it had nothing to do with 17 hours of practising a day? Let us note: we may or may not have innate talent: what we lack is the development.