Article #112-1 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from Violists, by Richard McGowan

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Dropping into the Calcutta to play the evening away quickly became a
pleasant habit over the next few weeks. Jurgen came to consider his
previous life as having been sheltered from some of the finest
home-spun music he had ever heard, and he decided there was much to be
learned here. Whether they worked in factories or restaurants, or
tended stores in the neighborhood, the people who congregated around
Mabel all seemed to have one thing in common: concentrated musical
talent. They were all masters of jazz melody. He looked forward to
his regular visits--an especially welcome diversion after playing all
day in the cold, hanging around employment lines looking for symphony
work. The pennies he earned during the day mostly ended up in Mabel's
coffers--where Jurgen thought they should be. His own savings began to
dwindle. He increased the hours he spent searching for good employment.

It seemed to Jurgen that every time he descended the dark stairwell to
Calcutta and opened the door, there were more customers than had been
there the last time. On the last Saturday night before Christmas--it
was Christmas Eve, in fact--Jurgen arrived, thinking he would have
dinner there. He threw open the door and found the whole café crowded
far beyond capacity. Every booth was full, and there were two new
tables plunked down in the corner nearest the spotlights. Every table
had an extra person or two squeezed in. The place was like a morning
train, but the atmosphere of celebration swirled through the room with
the blue haze of cigarette smoke. Jurgen went slowly forward toward
the lights--but could not find a seat anywhere. The musicians were out
on a break, so the customers all talked among themselves, laughing and
cheering. He was about to ask someone at one of the tables if they
would mind him crowding in to watch, but Al spotted him from the back
doorway.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Violists by Richard McGowan**

Context of the Source

Violists is a novel by Richard McGowan, likely set in mid-20th-century America, given its themes of jazz culture, economic struggle, and the contrast between classical and vernacular music. The protagonist, Jurgen, is a classically trained violist (a musician who plays the viola) who finds himself drawn to the vibrant, improvisational world of jazz in a underground club called the Calcutta. The novel explores themes of artistic passion, economic hardship, cultural exchange, and the tension between high art and popular music.

This excerpt captures a pivotal moment in Jurgen’s transformation—his growing immersion in the jazz scene and his financial and emotional investment in it, even as his classical career remains unstable.

Themes in the Excerpt

The Allure of Jazz vs. the Struggle of Classical Music
- Jurgen, a trained symphony musician, is drawn to the raw, communal energy of jazz in the Calcutta, which contrasts sharply with the cold, formal, and economically precarious world of classical music.
- His days are spent in frustration—playing in the cold, waiting in employment lines for symphony work—while his evenings at the Calcutta offer warmth, creativity, and belonging.
- The text suggests that jazz is alive and thriving, while classical music (for Jurgen, at least) is elite but inaccessible, leaving him financially and artistically unfulfilled.
Economic Hardship and Sacrifice
- Jurgen’s savings are dwindling because he spends his meager earnings at the Calcutta, implying that he values the experience over financial security.
- The line "where Jurgen thought they should be" suggests a moral or artistic justification for his spending—he believes Mabel (likely the club owner or a central figure) deserves his money more than he does, reinforcing the idea that the Calcutta is a sanctuary worth supporting.
- His increased job searching shows desperation, but his return to the Calcutta indicates that he cannot resist its pull, even as his financial situation worsens.
Community and Belonging
- The Calcutta is a melting pot of working-class musicians—factory workers, restaurant staff, storekeepers—who share a common passion for jazz.
- The crowded, lively atmosphere on Christmas Eve symbolizes shared joy and resilience in hard times.
- Jurgen, an outsider in the classical world, finds acceptance and excitement here, even if he is not yet a full participant (he is still looking for a seat, not playing).
The Magic of the Underground Scene
- The dark stairwell leading to the Calcutta evokes a hidden, almost secret world—a place where true art happens away from mainstream recognition.
- The growing crowds suggest that the club is thriving despite (or because of) its underground status, contrasting with the declining opportunities in the classical world.
- The blue haze of cigarette smoke and laughter create a sensory, immersive experience, reinforcing the idea that this is a living, breathing artistic space.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices

Imagery & Sensory Detail
- "Cold, hanging around employment lines" → The harshness of Jurgen’s daytime life contrasts with the warmth of the Calcutta.
- "Blue haze of cigarette smoke" → Creates a moody, atmospheric setting, typical of jazz clubs.
- "Like a morning train" → Simile comparing the crowded café to a packed commuter train, emphasizing energy and movement.
Juxtaposition
- Classical vs. Jazz:
  - Classical = cold, structured, economically unstable
  - Jazz = warm, improvisational, communally rich
- Day vs. Night:
  - Day = struggle, loneliness, financial worry
  - Night = joy, music, connection
Symbolism
- The Calcutta → Represents freedom, creativity, and escape from the rigid classical world.
- Mabel’s coffers → Symbolizes where Jurgen’s loyalty (and money) truly lies—not in his own survival, but in sustaining this artistic haven.
- Christmas Eve → A time of celebration and generosity, but also loneliness for those without a place—Jurgen is physically present but still an outsider (he can’t find a seat).
Foreshadowing & Tension
- The growing crowds suggest that the Calcutta is becoming more popular, which could mean opportunity or competition for Jurgen.
- The fact that Al spots him (a possible mentor or gatekeeper figure) hints that Jurgen may soon be invited deeper into this world.

Significance of the Passage

Jurgen’s Transformation
- This moment marks a turning point—Jurgen is no longer just a visitor but is emotionally invested in the Calcutta.
- His willingness to spend his last money there shows that he is prioritizing art over survival, a common trope in stories about starving artists.
The Jazz Club as a Counterculture
- The Calcutta represents an alternative artistic economy, where talent is recognized regardless of formal training or class.
- The fact that working-class musicians are "masters of jazz melody" challenges the hierarchy of "high" and "low" art.
The Cost of Passion
- Jurgen’s financial decline raises the question: How much is he willing to sacrifice for this new world?
- The text suggests that true art requires risk, and Jurgen is willing to take that risk, even if it leads to ruin.
The Role of Space in Art
- The physical layout of the Calcutta (crowded, intimate, alive) contrasts with the impersonal, competitive world of symphony auditions.
- The fact that Jurgen can’t find a seat symbolizes his liminal position—he is drawn to this world but not yet fully part of it.

Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

This excerpt is more than just a scene—it’s a microcosm of Jurgen’s internal conflict. The Calcutta is not just a bar; it’s a sanctuary, a challenge, and a temptation. Jurgen is caught between two musical worlds, and his growing attachment to jazz suggests that he may abandon classical music entirely—or at least redefine his relationship with it.

The passage also celebrates the democratic, communal nature of jazz, where talent is not confined to concert halls but thrives in dive bars and working-class spaces. At the same time, it acknowledges the cost of artistic devotion—Jurgen’s dwindling savings foreshadow hard choices ahead.

Ultimately, this moment sets up a key question for the novel: Will Jurgen fully embrace this new world, or will the realities of survival pull him back? The crowded, joyful chaos of the Calcutta on Christmas Eve makes it clear that, for now, he is exactly where he wants to be.

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s depiction of Jurgen’s financial decisions—spending his earnings at the Calcutta while his savings dwindle—primarily serves to:

A. critique the exploitative nature of underground jazz venues that prey on struggling artists.
B. illustrate the impulsive recklessness of musicians who prioritise fleeting pleasure over stability.
C. highlight the economic privilege of classically trained musicians relative to working-class jazz performers.
D. underscore the depth of Jurgen’s artistic and emotional commitment to the Calcutta’s cultural world.
E. foreshadow Jurgen’s eventual abandonment of music altogether due to financial desperation.

Question 2

The simile comparing the crowded Calcutta to a "morning train" (line 15) functions most effectively to:

A. evoke the monotonous drudgery of daily labour, contrasting with the club’s supposed vibrancy.
B. emphasise the transient, impersonal nature of jazz audiences compared to symphony patrons.
C. convey the paradoxical blend of constraint and exhilaration in the club’s atmosphere.
D. suggest that the club’s popularity is fleeting, much like a commuter rush hour.
E. imply that Jurgen feels as trapped in the Calcutta as he does in his classical career.

Question 3

Which of the following best captures the narrative significance of Al spotting Jurgen "from the back doorway" (line 20)?

A. It signals Jurgen’s permanent exclusion from the jazz community, as Al acts as a gatekeeper.
B. It introduces a potential antagonist who will exploit Jurgen’s financial vulnerability.
C. It suggests Jurgen’s transition from observer to participant in the Calcutta’s world.
D. It underscores the club’s hostility toward classically trained musicians.
E. It foreshadows Jurgen’s decision to leave the Calcutta and return to symphonic work.

Question 4

The passage’s juxtaposition of Jurgen’s daytime struggles ("playing all day in the cold, hanging around employment lines") with his evenings at the Calcutta primarily serves to:

A. expose the classist hierarchies that devalue jazz while idealising classical music.
B. contrast the sterility of high art with the vitality of vernacular cultural expression.
C. demonstrate that financial hardship is an inevitable consequence of artistic pursuit.
D. argue that jazz musicians are more economically savvy than their classical counterparts.
E. suggest that Jurgen’s classical training has left him unprepared for real-world challenges.

Question 5

The "blue haze of cigarette smoke" (line 14) is most plausibly interpreted as symbolising:

A. the moral ambiguity of the jazz scene, where artistic brilliance coexists with vice.
B. the ephemeral nature of Jurgen’s connection to the Calcutta, destined to dissipate like smoke.
C. the suffocating pressure of economic hardship that permeates both Jurgen’s day and night.
D. the immersive, almost hallucinatory allure of the club’s atmosphere.
E. the environmental degradation of urban spaces frequented by working-class artists.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: D

Why D is most correct: The passage frames Jurgen’s financial choices not as recklessness but as a deliberate redirection of resources toward what he values. The line "where Jurgen thought [his pennies] should be" (emphasising Mabel’s "coffers") reveals his moral and artistic allegiance to the Calcutta’s world. His dwindling savings are less about poor judgment than about prioritising cultural belonging over material security, a theme central to the excerpt.