Notes on a Soiree
On stumbling across some good information online regarding Lord Byron’s daughter, Ada Byron Lovelace, from his short marriage to her mother, I read about her connection with Charles Babbage, the Victorian era father of the modern day computer. It’s worth reading the transcript shown on the link to Charles Babbage, because it shows an interesting shapshot of life in the mid 19th Century, when an explosion of ideas came forth. (It’s very long, and most of the parts can be skipped over according to interest.) The way these ideas were spread, prior to the days of television, radio, podcasts, and other modern communication methods, was the soiree.
Are soirees considered out of date? Ada Lovelace met Charles Babbage at one of his soirees, held to spread awareness of his scientific ideas. I suppose these days there are expos and field days and the like, but nothing as glamorous as swirling silks, elegant style, men in full evening dress, the romance of gaslight and chandeliers, and sumptuous furnishings and art.
I tried to imagine the excitement of conversations at these soirees, with so many great minds mingling with each other. It was interesting, then, to think about other soiree settings: J.S. Bach attended many soirees to showcase his music, Rossini must have discussed every opera and libretto with the minds that attended his famous musical soirees, and the celebrated painter, Lord Leighton, was well known for holding his lavish soirees. A soiree is literally “an evening party”, which could be specialised under a theme, such as a “musical soiree” which has the sole purpose of listening to music. These evening parties were usually held at a private residence.
Is the original soiree gone for good? The best we can have is a glimpse back in time, and imagine what it was like back there, when all was new, and people were excited by ideas. Though, there was some later backlash, where Babbage wasn’t always entirely happy with what happened to his inventions, but I can’t help imagining that nothing could have happened if rampant idealism hadn’t dominated those times.
The soiree is seems a dignified way of showcasing ideas, and sharing them in a relaxed setting. I wish the soiree wasn’t “dead”, but in a world of circles, perhaps the concept is only just sleeping…
(copyright Imogen Crest 2007.)
Fascinating piece, Imogen. Someone should reinstate the soiree. I often lament the fact that when groups gather together the conversation jumps in fits and starts from one subject to another… deep discussion is hard to come by these days. Could it be that in this world of hurry up and rush, the individual attention span is getting shorter and shorter?
Vi
Thanks for this glimpse into the world of the soiree, Imogen. I would hope that the soiree was not dead, just sleeping, as you say…or maybe it has morphed into something else that we haven’t recognized yet? The book club meeting? Do people still gather together just to discuss ideas, new developments, originality? Good post, Imogen, has got me thinking.
Fascinating Monika, and yes indeed, much food for thought.
Thanks for these comments, Vi, Mari and Edith. What has astonished me more, on thinking about it again, is that almost no-one has evening parties anymore. Could be the trends are just different. Though, like Vi, I do think deep, sustained discussion, or sustained listening as would be the case at the musical soiree, are valuable, because you get more out of it, the more you do it. The other thing about soirees is the “beauty” of them, and it was interesting to see the inside Lord Leighton’s London residence. I think this is valid, there is something about beauty that satisfies people, whether it’s word or art or music.
Evening parties? In a world with a television to sit in front of and stare at mindlessly while it jumps from topic to topic and frees us from the necessity of thinking? While the internet can be used to communicate to a wider audience and allows us the option to participate and think, the rest of the world of electronic media has taken that joy away from us. I imagine that few people know what they are missing, more’s the pity. We have friends over every Saturday for games and conversation. It’s not a soiree with silks and so forth, but it’s a start.
I have nothing against TV, but I have noticed I get more done if I don’t just do that. I agree. Good to have the friends over for games and talk. It sure is a start.