Games by children in which objects are placed in lines and rows are well documented in psychology texts. Less has been written about these games when they continue to be practised far beyond childhood. Some artists base successful careers on versions of such games. Photographs of their lines of slate, or their floating autumn-toned maple leaves joined with thorns, appear in elegant large-format books. When counting and numbering systems are brought in, things become complicated. Why can't we just enjoy the scenery; why do we insist on altering it?
The soundtrack for A Pride of Lines is based on a very simple line. The eight ascending notes of the C major scale. On paper, they’re blobs on a stave: CDEFGABC. But blobs, when liberated from paper, can decide to play games and become unruly. Even so, the line is lurking, hoping to assert itself. Centuries of European music confer it that power. To keep things orderly and “in line”.
Watch it here.
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