Music...

Jack Pinter, musician and composer lead a session about music with TRIPWIRES. This is his account of the experience...

One of the most powerful and prevalent forms of censorship is the kind we place on ourselves. In the Tripwires session I led, we explored how we all often suppress our authentic, essential selves in order to meet others’ expectations, avoid our fears and protect that which is most precious within us. If we can eliminate, or even diminish, this self-censorship, we can allow our authentic selves to blossom and grow.

I asked participants to draw two self-portraits: one as their unfettered, pure selves, and another as their censored selves—what they often present to the world. They then introduced these two selves to the group,

and in doing so revealed the gap between who they truly are and the face they often show the world.

Music is often one of the first things that attracts censorship. Why? The Chinese say that music is the one art form that goes directly to the soul, bypassing the filter of our brains. Words set to music have historically been the most powerful form of direct communication, and anthems for freedom or change have often been at the leading edge of transformation.

Music has also historically been a way for oppressed people to communicate, using code and metaphor. Some of the greatest music of the 20th century—including jazz, blues and rock roll-sprang from oppressed people’s need to express their experience. And anyone can do

this, simply using the incredible expressive power of their own voices.

Jack Pinter has composed music for PBS television (U.S.) and for productions by The Royal National Theatre, Manchester Royal Exchange and Nottingham Playhouse, and many other theatre companies. He created and conducted an improvisational music project with the Easington Colliery Brass Band for the television documentary ‘Bloomin Human’, and wrote the music for The Learning and Skills Council documentary ‘Act Now.’

The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond and The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury have staged his musical adaptations of classics such as ‘The Pied Piper’, ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ and ‘Tales from the Arabian Nights.’ He has also created drama and music based education projects for orchestras and theatres including The Royal National Theatre, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the English Shakespeare Company.

Jack has done extensive recording and playing in orchestras, jazz and pop groups. This month he will be touring with actor turned singer Tim Robbins. Jack has played with Tom Waits, Marianne Faithfull, Anastacia, Dizzy Gillespie, and The Stereo MCs.

This is Jack’s first project with Phakama.

Speak Out Against Censorship

An early advertisement by Index on Censorship from 1986 starring Anthony Hopkins, depicting the importance of freedom of expression.