Molly
Sheehan

Beyond the Music

Artist Statement
Beyond the Music is a portrait of musicians and their practice. The majority of the images are of musicians engaged in rehearsal rather than performing. As listeners we hear and see things as a whole, missing out on the individual parts that create the whole. The work is meant to document those component parts that go into both the preparation and the performance. As a musician, I see and hear these elements when I practice and have attempted to capture these aspects that are so often missed. Musicians, like any artist, have certain ways to hold their instruments, make notes, stress, make corrections, and practice. There are passion and emotion that go into each note, whether singing or playing. Their bodies respond to their actions, and their facial expressions reveal what they are feeling when playing or singing. There is more to music than just reading notes off a piece of paper and making a sound.

I developed my appreciation for music since second grade where I started to play the flute, and have continued performing in ensembles, recitals, church choirs, and musicals till the present. And for me it is not always about the performance rather it is what is beyond that which is more interesting. There are things that audience members never see, like stopping to make notes, the look of worry on one's face, or how the musician gets into the groove of the music. In my photograph, Rehearsal, I took the viewpoint of the musician and stepped behind her to show what she sees and how she prepares herself, and to make sure she sounds in tune with space before the audience arrives. To show off their talent, time, effort and passion, I have recorded each musician performing their music. Each voice and instrument has a unique sound that gives music the life it needs. The music playing within the gallery is composed of these recordings.

Molly Sheehan, 2019