As a young man in his Paris Diary of 1951, Ned predicts the circumstances of his own death:
“Of course, I am convinced that it will be violent, unpleasant, and soon, either by the hand of a friend near the Boulevard Clichy (though, unfortunately, I never take chances unless drunk, and drunks are never murdered) – or in a concentration camp for vaguer reasons, and by tortures of which one does not speak (this I wouldn’t be able to avoid by will)…. Perhaps I write this from fear, knowing that what is written does not occur. I feel that I shall die in ‘a certain way’ before I grow old; I’m not sure of it and don’t want it but I feel it.”
Ned will be turning 86 in October.
I think all creative people get these kind of fanciful notions in their heads. Living an extraordinary life doesn’t necessarily mean dying an extraordinary death. It’s fun to imagine though.
Tags: death, Ned Rorem, Paris Diary
September 5, 2009 at 4:33 pm |
Hmmm . . . I wonder if that conviction that he might not have long to live, having a morbid anticipation of his own abrupt end, might partly explain why he accomplished so much over his lifetime? I teach college writing, and I know that unless I set a deadline, essays don’t get written. “Memento mori”–remember that you must die–what a happy thought. Maybe it will inspire me to do something productive.
Cheers,
Da
September 5, 2009 at 8:18 pm |
You never cease to amaze me, daughter! I love reading your musings. I wish you deep satisfaction in your project, and I hope that it affords you much inspiration.