9. Have you ever experienced time the way Hodges does through improvisation?

Discussion on Uncommon Measure by Natalie Hodges - The Big Library Read pick for May 2025. It’s a thoughtful reflection on performance, cultural expectation, and finding meaning beyond mastery.
Forum rules
Our program is here to foster an inclusive, welcoming environment for all readers. To keep our community respectful and engaging, please follow these guidelines:

• Be kind and considerate to others.
• Stay on topic, keep discussions constructive, and use appropriate language.
• Trolling, spamming, harassment, or hate speech will not be tolerated.
• Share only original, non-copyrighted material and appropriate content.
• Do not post or share personal details about yourself or others, including real names, addresses, or any other identifying information.
• Do not post anything illegal, threatening, or otherwise harmful.
• Moderators reserve the right to remove content or suspend users who violate these guidelines.
• Users are responsible for their own posts, and our platform is not liable for user-generated content.
• Report issues instead of escalating, and respect moderator decisions.
Post Reply
smkelly
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2025 7:35 pm

9. Have you ever experienced time the way Hodges does through improvisation?

Post by smkelly »

As Hodges mourns the loss of her identity as a violinist, she writes, "I felt haunted by a monumental sense of failure, of aborted struggle and lost time." Yet she found new joy and freedom in jazz, tango, and the magic of time's smooth movement during improvisation, "a strange feeling, beautiful but also eerie: not only that you can step into time's Bow, but that you are the Bow itself."

What is your experience of time and improvisational Bow? Have you ever felt time moving differently? Is time ever truly lost?
schacpet
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri May 16, 2025 3:59 pm

Re: 9. Have you ever experienced time the way Hodges does through improvisation?

Post by schacpet »

Yes, I have experienced time differently — especially when I'm deeply engaged. When I'm reading a good book, listening to a fascinating lecture, or hearing an engaging story, time seems to dissolve. Hours pass in what feels like minutes. It's as if I'm outside of time, fully immersed in the moment.

On the other hand, time can feel painfully slow—like when I lie awake at night, unable to sleep. Every minute stretches out, heavy and endless. In those moments, I become acutely aware of time’s weight.

So yes, time can move differently depending on our state of mind. But I don’t think time is ever truly lost.
Post Reply