Humans love the concept of a finale. Why is that?
In music the finale is a recapitulation of the main theme, except now exalted. For example, "The 1812 Overture", composed by Tchaikovsky closes with cannons sounding at the beginning of every measure. Modest Mussorgsky concludes, "Pictures at an Exhibition" with "The Bogatyr Gates (At the Capital of Kiev)" the finale swells for over five minutes drawing a picture of victorious heroes marching through the gate into the realms of history until it releases its hold over the audience. Carl Orff captivates us with "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi" the closing movement of "Carmina Burana." Orff creates a vehement atmosphere appropriate only for the Empress of the World...Fortune.
It is not only the music world that is obsessed with the idea of a finale, for it can be found everywhere. Every year during the first week of July there are countless firework shows. We love watching the flowers of light cascade down from the heavens. We are entranced by the colorful explosions. We want to sit in the grass looking up at the stars and never move again...still the adage rings true; all good things must come to an end. The glory and magnificence fade, and we are left with only a memory.
Why do humans love the finale? Conclusion.
Humans need closure. Though we would love to always end with cannons and fireworks; reality doesn't afford us that luxury. Reality is much less dramatic. I remember a time in my life when someone or something I loved more than anything in the world faded silently into the darkness. I wasn't satisfied with how it ended. How could I be? There must be something more, something I could have done. Suddenly an idea manifests in my mind, and before I can reason any different; I act. I am certain that my idea will bring a favorable outcome. I write my final notes; set the fuses aflame. I hope and I pray that I will have my own epic finale. Cannons singing through the air Victory...Victory...Victory.
But it isn't meant to be.
Reality triumphs.
I now eat the fruit of closure, bitter through and through. My heart is consoled only knowing that now I have reached the finality of closure.
