Ralph Ellison’s Living with Music is a story about jazz musicians, and a reader is transferred to twentieth-century America to explore the circumstances, daily activities, and the inspiring power of music people experienced. The essay contains various musical terms and names of famous jazz artists and reflects the author’s thoughts and aspirations. Living with Music starts with the setting description and a few portraits of people by whom Ellison was surrounded during his writing. Even if a reader does not know that the piece is written by a musician, they would understand it because of how the author describes the world around them. Ellison pays attention to the rhythm of their typewriter, surroundings’ acoustics, jukeboxes in restaurants, and how loud people speak (Ellison 4). Living with Music also reasonably portrays musicians’ values, suggesting that the author deeply understands and shares jazzmen’s dreams and choices.
Ellison discusses the unity with his diverse neighbors by describing their circumstances, the music they were dedicated to, and how they interacted with each other. Once the author got tired of a singer from upstairs, he did not intervene, arguing that “could I, an aspiring artist, complain against the hard work and devotion to the craft of another aspiring artist?” (Ellison 6). The story contains a detailed explanation and description of trumpeter’s practice, shares what musicians inspired Ellison, and how others interacted with their striving to play and compose. The author points out that most people he grew up with supported his craft, mentioning that “there were more tolerant ones who were willing to pay in present pain for future pride” (Ellison 9). Living with Music leaves a positive impression, provides a reader with interesting details about the art of music only a musician could share, and reminds everyone that music is vital for happiness.
Work Cited
Ellison, Ralph. Living with Music. Modern Library, 2001.