The renowned French composer Camille Saint-Saëns is probably best known for his piece Carnival of the Animals. Its melodies are infectious, its wit memorable, and its aesthetic approachable. It might surprise you, however, to learn that Saint-Saëns insisted that the piece not be performed publicly in his lifetime. The reason? It was written as a joke among his friends! Publishing something as playful and childlike as Carnival of the Animals might detract from his reputation as a “serious” composer.
Composers and artists can take themselves so seriously sometimes. We get tunnel-vision focus on “serious” art. But I want to argue that having fun again is an important part of staying creative. Often, like Saint-Saëns’s most popular work, creativity flows more freely when we start thinking like children. In my own creative life, I sometimes ask myself: “If I were a child and not a professional, how would I approach this project?” What I find is that rather than being overwhelmed at trying to rival the professionalism of the greats, I start enjoying myself again and finding more creative solutions.
Maurice Ravel is one composer who deliberately side-stepped the long shadow of giants that came before him. When he set out to write his Piano Concerto in G Major—under the legacy of names like Beethoven or Chopin—he did not even try to outdo them on their own turf. Rather, he intentionally set out to write a concerto meant to sparkle and play. When I listen to this work, with its infectious blend of classical and jazz, I can’t help but think: Ravel had fun writing this. If a return to play helped Ravel, I’m confident it can help us too.
Artists, by all means, learn your craft. Take it seriously. Shake hands. Go to school. But don’t forget to come back to play. Return to the creative freedom of a child. It just might restore your joy. And you just might write something no one else could have thought of.