Music and Emotions

Blogpost

December 11, 2020

Emotionplus - Cover Picture

There are many people who find it difficult to deal with emotions. Mental injuries or childhood traumas are only two of many reasons. The protective mechanisms of the soul (e.g. irony) are just as varied. But this does not mean that these people are emotionless. On the contrary, it can be observed that it is usually very sensitive people who are particularly affected.

In my stage play “From Ape to Human”, this idea plays a decisive role. On the surface, the play is about an intelligent machine that shows emotions, which leads to amusing confusion. At its core, however, buried human emotions are the profound theme.

After finishing work on the stage play, I decided to make socio-critical themes the new focus of the Entprima Jazz Cosmonauts. Specifically, it is mainly about empathy. Especially in times of the Corona pandemic and climate change, it should be clear to every rational person that the big problems of this world can only be solved globally. However, it is a bitter experience that reason alone does not move people to act. As long as we are not emotionally moved by the fate of population groups with which we have no direct contact, there is no impetus for action. But what does all this have to do with music?

I am one of those people who have spent a lifetime largely suppressing emotions in order to survive in the struggle for existence. Now that I’m sliding into so-called retirement, it’s also breaking through against the resistance of the barriers I’ve built up. And this is reflected in my music. However, it is noticeable that my socio-political titles have a hard time with the audience, especially since they are still spiced with a good portion of irony. But what is this irony good for when you have made peace with your own feelings?

It has something to do with truthfulness. If I allow emotions in music now, they should be truthful. But if we take a critical look at the music charts, we see that the most ostensibly emotional titles often follow a sales calculation. The most successful producers know exactly how to appeal to the listeners’ feelings. And these are more likely to be self-pity than pity for distant, tormented people.

It’s hard to separate truthfulness from deceit, because there are truthful elements even among the titles that carry the feeling before them almost like a monstrance. A song brushed with feeling, written by professional and calculating creators, can be transformed by an honest performer into truthfulness in its entirety. However, for the artist crafting a work from start to finish, extreme caution applies.

An ironic refraction of the basic emotional attitude, which is undoubtedly a condition for truthful music, can be helpful. Merging this irony with the emotion in such a way that it is not buried is an extremely artistic act. In my track “Emotionplus Audiofile X-mas 1960”, which will be released on 18th of December 2020, I feel that I have succeeded as never before. I would be happy if the audience feels the same way. I almost believe that the song would have touched the 4-year-old child Horst Grabosch, even if irony was not on his mind at the time.

Emotionplus Audiofile X-mas 1960

When Christmas is just around the corner, memories, emotions and a critical view of world events sometimes form a wild alliance. The critical spirit can only disrupt the strong longing for a sweet, healthy world, but cannot cover it up. The song “Emotionplus Audiofile X-mas 1960” reflects this conflict, but cannot destroy the naive beauty of the Christmas song.

 

The Christmas classic “Silent Night, Holy Night” is crossed with “Good Evening, Good Night” by Brahms, and from children’s choir to church bells all platitudes are used, while an out-of-control drummer fires off one fill after another and a rich bass unwinds all the notes of the harmonies, which also oscillate between major and minor.  In the process, the speakers complete their documentary tasks. Surprisingly, it still remains a beautiful song.

The Founder

My name is Horst Grabosch and I am the mastermind of all projects presented on this website.

I was born in the largest coal mining area in Germany, known as the “Ruhrgebiet”. After school I worked as a professional musician until I was 40 years old. This time is well documented on WIKIPEDIA

After a burnout I had to give up my job, moved to the south of Germany, to the Munich region, and did an apprenticeship as an information technologist.

Another burnout forced me to rebuild my existence again, which collapsed just because of the corona crisis. In expectation of poverty at retirement age, I began to build a second career as a musician in 2019.

Newest Music

Die Geschichte von Oberförster Karl-Heinz Flinte - Horst Grabosch

Die Geschichte von Oberförster Karl-Heinz Flinte

A new story by Horst Grabosch from the “Heroes of Work” series. This time the focus is on the profession of forester. Of course, Karl-Heinz Flinte does not fit the stereotype of a forester. On the cover, he looks more like a climate activist. But that is exactly Grabosch’s twist. The three episodes reveal the diversity of the activity. Flinte also occasionally shoots a boar when necessary, but he also suffers with the weakened trees and cares for the forest’s human visitors – after all, that’s what he’s paid to do. Just as with his music, he sits between all chairs, but the chairs always represent only a limited view. Grabosch always chooses individual themes and musical genres for a song, but in the process they form a whole picture over time. This picture is irritatingly diverse in terms of pattern formation. Perhaps this is precisely how Grabosch demonstrates our general lack of acceptance of the complexity of the world. But he always keeps his humorous wink.

Die Geschichte von Bademeister Adelwart - Horst Grabosch

Die Geschichte von Bademeister Adelwart

With the story of pool attendant Adelwart, Horst Grabosch presents the second release from the series “Heroes of Work”. With three episodes in this maxi-single he pays tribute to people who daily make their peaceful contribution to the functioning of our world. All three contributions of German poetry and musical eclecticism have the same jazzy base and vary in the small poems in German that form the song lyrics and in the soloistic elements. We are once again surprised by the variety of styles in Grabosch’s songs. There is jazz in this song and the jazz trumpeter, who was internationally successful many years ago, shows how to integrate styles when you have practiced them yourself.

Die Geschichte von Krankenschwester Hildegard - Horst Grabosch

Die Geschichte von Krankenschwester Hildegard

With the story of Nurse Hildegard, Horst Grabosch opens a new box of his imagination. With three episodes in this maxi-single, he pays tribute not only to professions that are socially important, but even more to the people who daily make their peaceful contribution to the functioning of our world. All three musical pieces have the same musical base and vary in the small poems in German that make up the lyrics of the song and in the solo elements. Other tributes to other professions have been announced. The series is entitled Heroes of Work. We are looking forward to more humorous episodes with new musical styles, as we are used to from the eclectic Grabosch.

Der Preis des Wollens - Horst Grabosch

Der Preis des Wollens

This downtempo track sets to music the poem of the same name, which deals with peace of mind. The academically trained musician speaks the text himself over a charming chord progression and poetic electronic sounds. Sophisticated but pleasing “Deutsche Poesie”.

LUST - Horst Grabosch

LUST

Quite a thick one! Horst Grabosch doesn’t leave it at a music album, but writes a book to it – unfortunately in German. But we have to accept that, because it is his native language. We already know the music from the singles, but it is so catchy and profound that you can listen to it more often. The book should increase the pleasure even more, because it describes thoughts and feelings about each title. Therefore, we think the title “LUST” is quite appropriate.

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