You Act Like You Listen (Part 3) LES MIS!

In the last post, I went into depth on the song "Hold On to What You Believe"  and if you missed it check it out here. Moreover in the post, I want to describe another aspect or avenue of music...Musicals.

Okay, lets be honest. Not everyone loves musicals. Too many dance numbers. And jazz hands. Anyhow, every now and again there are musicals that do no less than move you in a way that normal dramas cannot. Now, I do not claim to be an expert on the whole musical scene, but as a performer in numerous productions, I do know somethings.

Everything in musicals is communicate to the audience. In the majority of productions, there is a distinct 4th wall (the separation of audience and actors) that is not broken. How then do we communicate the message and emotions of the musical beyond this wall? Though there are various aspects of this I am concentrating on the music side of things.

Think of Les Miserables. It just came out on the big screen, though I was in the stage production my freshman year, so I am very very familiar with the production. And watch this--------->>>>
Well just cause.

Think of the huge emotional moments.... they were songs! The strings are wailing (can they "wail"? uh yeah) and the music climaxes into a huge molto crescendo. We love characters like Jean Vajean (24-6-01!!!!!) or the tragic Eponine (who shows that you are not who your parents are). So. Listen to it.

Where is the philosophy in this? 
I would be willing to bet that more people have seen or listened to at least one musical or song from a musical than have studied David Hume or Spinoza. If we learn to take a philosophical approach to the things we experience, such as musicals, would we not be achieving eudaimonia, as Aristotle thought. Or expanding out horizon of happiness and enjoyment like Mill thought? Yes is what I think. We learn lessons from what we experience, so if we choose carefully what we can experience, through music and musicals, we can better ourselves.