Connection and Isolation: A Musical Exploration of Emotion

Music is emotional and inherently connective, and this paper addresses how research in social work and emotion can be communicated and understood using a musical performance. Using the research of Dr. Brené Brown, I explored the concept of "near" and "far enemies" of emotion with a musical perspective and commissioned composers to write a piece of their interpretation. "Near" and "far enemies" are Buddhist terms typically attributed to the Four Immeasurables: loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity. The far enemy of an emotion is its opposite, and it typically produces a harsh outcome. Near enemies are not as obvious. Similar to far enemies, they produce a disconnecting effect, but the attack is more subtle. A near enemy can easily be confused for the base emotion. Dr. Brown applied this concept to all emotions that connect us, rather than solely being an exercise for the Four Immeasurables, and she uses the English language to explore and demystify these ideas. It is essential to understand ourselves and our emotions better to be able to communicate our needs with others more effectively. To expand upon her research musically, I hired three student composers to write original works after I assigned them an extensive worksheet that allowed them to explore what these ideas mean to them individually. I then premiered these pieces and explained the concepts to an audience. Participants were asked to fill out a worksheet during the performance, and their responses are the basis for my Honors Capstone.