THE POINT OF DISTRACTION

A memoir by the 2019 Wellcome Prize winner Will Eaves that looks at the creation of eight piano pieces A wonderfully sensitive and probing meditation on the writing of words and music Rolf Hind composer and pianistWhat lies behind the creation of a piece of music Does it spring fully formed from a composer s mind or take shape in the recesses of the brain revealing itself in stages over time Is the creative act deliberate or happenstance An inspired vision or the result of practice Will Eaves author and musician shares his experience of writing eight new piano pieces after many years away from the keyboard Some of the music is found in old notebooks and teenage enthusiasms some of it is caught on the wing a response to the resurgence of the natural world during COVID lockdown None of it is what he is meant to be doing But then not all artistic interests are primary or professional interests Sometimes it s the second string activities the diversions that bring work and life into focus The Point of Distraction is a unique account of music making that embraces Bach film jazz literature neuroscience and the mystery of will power in its search for meaning At its heart is a love of skill an openness to self doubt and a belief that we are all mo

A memoir by the 2019 Wellcome Prize winner Will Eaves that looks at the creation of eight piano pieces A wonderfully sensitive and probing meditation on the writing of words and music Rolf Hind composer and pianistWhat lies behind the creation of a piece of music Does it spring fully formed from a composer s mind or take shape in the recesses of the brain revealing itself in stages over time Is the creative act deliberate or happenstance An inspired vision or the result of practice Will Eaves author and musician shares his experience of writing eight new piano pieces after many years away from the keyboard Some of the music is found in old notebooks and teenage enthusiasms some of it is caught on the wing a response to the resurgence of the natural world during COVID lockdown None of it is what he is meant to be doing But then not all artistic interests are primary or professional interests Sometimes it s the second string activities the diversions that bring work and life into focus The Point of Distraction is a unique account of music making that embraces Bach film jazz literature neuroscience and the mystery of will power in its search for meaning At its heart is a love of skill an openness to self doubt and a belief that we are all mo