We are currently beginning to increasingly refine our concept, specifically focusing on the science and emotion aspect of memories. This could range from past memories, forgotten memories or happy and sad memories, each of them are special to us in different ways. We explored using these memories through physical workshops, and after researching further we were gripped by the concept around the notion of memory loss and Encephalitis. Each patient we looked at suffered with severe amnesia; being torn between states of unconsciousness to consciousness, not knowing what happened only 10 seconds ago. However, the most remarkable thing about these stories is the ability to still remember and play music; ‘the ability to play a musical instrument represents a unique procedural skill that can be remarkably resilient to disruptions in… memory’ (Cavaco et al, 2012, 1089). In Oliver Sack’s book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, he talks about a certain case who too suffers from memory loss but remembers music; ‘music has been the centre, now make it the whole, of your life’ (Sacks, 1985, 17). This is what we want to incorporate in our piece, the fact that music is the centre of this character’s life on stage, and this will be shown through Michael playing live piano; representing the reality of these cases. Recorded music and voice overs will be embedded into every scene, sometimes to complement the action on stage and sometimes to become the main focus, such as when Michael slowly starts to regain his musical memory during the performance.
With regards to memory loss, Encephalitis and the emotional concept of music, the brain continues to change and develop rapidly from infancy. From birth, a baby is born with the same strands of music and language in their brain. However, as they experience life and learn new things, these strands start to form different pathways in the brain. There is a ‘conscious memory of events….and an unconscious memory for procedures’ (Sacks, 2009, 220), and it is the unconscious memory that most sufferers of Encephalitis use to remember their love for music. We aim throughout our performance to make this clear to the audience, the fact that this man is constantly slipping through a state of memory lapse and temporary awakening of the brain.
-Naomi.
Works Cited
Cavaco, S. Feinstein, J.S. Van Twillert, H. and Tranel, D. (2012) Musical memory in a patient with severe anterograde amnesia. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology. 34 (10) 1089- 1100.
Sacks, O. (1985) The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. London: Gerald Duckworth and Co. Ltd.
Sacks, O. (2008) Musicophilia. London: Picador.
