What is Interpretation
People gave many definition of interpretation. Basically Interpretation is when you study some thing that you want to understand or know more and you can explain how that you understand and what did you understand it. In general interpretation can use with all science no matter art or mathematics, they are process to understand something more or less. They will help to see more idea, imagination, perspective on your work. Especially science of art because art isn't reasoning something can't explain or understand with reasoning or scientific formality because everyone have different feeling and impression for artworks. Not like mathematics that 2+2 = 4 even you do on different way like 2x2, 3+1, 10-6 but result still be = 4 but in art everyone can understand in different way that why we must have interpretation on art. You know on reasoning 100 man = 100 process = 1 result but in art 100 man = 100 idea, perspective, process = 100 result.
For example Beethoven Piano sonata no.14 op. 27, No. 2 "Moonlight" many musician in new period gave this piece's interpretation that is the light from the moon up from the river at night that is why we call "Moonlight Sonata" but the truth Beethoven didn't gave this name for this piece. Sonata no.14 op. 27, No. 2 is the new Beethoven's sonata composing experimental. The name "Moonlight" created from letter musician's interpretation. But that's mean people understand art in different way. There's not strict form or rules of interpretation it's depend on human imagination even present day there will be many people said "you must understand like this" or "This not interpretation in artist style". But there's not mean you must following them. Interpretation is personal perspective then no one can copy other even they do on same ways or materials.
Try the Example
See the picture, listen the song and see how did you feel, What do you see. What is your imagination from this example.
How to start interpretation
In the truth they're many ways to make music interpretation it's depend on your imagination and perspective I don't want to limited about the ways but if you don't know how to start I recommend to try this. They're example of the easiest of starting interpretation
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interpretation by picture - you have to listen the song and imagine what did you see in your head, then find that picture or draw it by yourself. Don't fear that will not beautiful, you do it to get your idea clearly. Then put that together with the song.
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Video - same with picture, you have only picture to video.
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Analysis song (Musical) - When you listen the song, try to think what kind of musical that they same for example you listen piano piece but you can think it's like Aria if you listen and feel like that.
Analysis song (Theory) - You listen and analysis about some detail in the song that you see like form (Ex. ABA, Improvisation, Variations) Chord, Harmony direction of melody because the piece's details can set the mood of song too.
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Analysis song (in the piece) - You can listen and think how that song go. Sometime you didn't need to only find the picture, You can get your mood in to the song and set it together (Ex. you see cresendo and you think it's like something get bigger and bigger but didn't need to explain what it's will bigger.)
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Traveling - Sometime you can't find the answer if you only live in the room and look only score. Traveling is open your mind and experience, traveling can get you relax and you can find new thing. The new experience maybe your picture for interpretation.
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Histoircal - You have to study the event in the and you have to know about the composer of your piece because the timeline, inspiration, event and the personal life can be affect for song. If you understand their idea, inspiration, you will know what they want to told you and that will easier to find the picture.
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Activities - You can find some activities that related to your song Ex. If your song is sacred song, you should to go to church (But not mean you must change you faith) and then you will see what is the composer's inspiration how they composed like it.
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See online - You can find some explain about interpretation on online or see the interpretation masterclass, you will see many different of ideas and perspective of interpretation by each other and you can see you that you like and study they process.
They're many ways about interpretation but this is an example for who want to start for first interpretation
For musician interpretation is one of most necessary thing to learn. Music interpretation will help you to understand your song clearly. There's not strict forms or method, interpretation is depend on your imagination