Thelonius Pulitzer

Ultra fame may be defined as being known by one name. Ali. Bono.

But few could be identified by two single names.

Just say, Thelonius.

Or, Monk.

Nothing else is necessary.

This evening, the Pulitzer Prize Board announced its selections for the 2005 awards. In music, the Board provided a Special Citation. It was the last line in the press release announcing the awards...almost an afterthought.

A posthumous Special Citation to American composer Thelonious Monk for a body of distinguished and innovative musical composition that has had a significant and enduring impact on the evolution of jazz.

Saying that Thelonius Monk's work was distinguished and innovative, and has had a significant and enduring impact on the evolution of jazz is like saying that Pablo Picasso did some things that kinda changed painting. Believe me, that's no overstatement.

Listening to Monk play a familiar melody is like walking through a new city for the first time. You recognize that it's made up of buildings and streets and people, but everything's in a slightly different place than you expect it to be, highlighting a dance between elements you thought you'd fully understood, but now realize have possibilities you'd never before imagined  (how can they put a door over there?). From then on, no melody can ever be the same. As if he re-invented the whole idea of melody, that set of relationships between tone and duration so deeply ingrained in our neurophysiology.

A Pulitzer for Monk. Somebody was really using their head when they came up with this one.

Tags: Thelonius Monk Pulitzer Prize

Comments

[Diego]

Bravo!