When my thoughts turn negative, it is always music that rescues me.
In my early days on Long Island, my only chance to listen to what I liked, was when I was driving to work or school, and although I spent a lot of time commuting, I never minded because that was my alone time. Once in a while I caught sight of my uncle in my rear view mirror, but fortunately that was rare.
I’m sure I am not the only one who used to sit in their car waiting for a piece of music to finish.
Classical music was my father’s choice and my mother tolerated it although I suspect she would have preferred silence.
We didn’t have a great selection of music, long playing records being impractical to move around. My dad purchased a reel-to-reel Grundig tape recorder and copied some LP’s which were then abandoned. In the tropics, however, the tapes tended to stick because of the humidity!
At least I gained a familiarity with the sound.
How fascinated my father would have been by the idea of having any choice of music readily at his fingertips!
In college, I listened often to WQXR and I became devoted to Beethoven. This was regarded perhaps as a sign that I was progressing in a cultured way, so I was allowed to play the odd symphony on my uncle’s phonograph.
One way an another his music was etched into my soul.
For my birthday, one year, I was even given a bust of Beethoven. I took it with me when finally I was “allowed” to have my own apartment.
My aunt’s cocker spaniels, Wendy and Jill, came to visit one day and were terrified of it, so I had to hide it before they barked the place down.
A term paper I eventually wrote, in part about the 9th symphony, scored me an A in my philosophy class. It was a bit fake, because I had worked out what the professor wished to read and so supplied it, but mostly it was my own thoughts.
It’s fair to say, I suppose, that I am into “big” music. Full orchestra. Beethoven had such passion. When I was depressed I would listen to Symphony #6, the Pastorale, movement 5, especially…over and over. I cried a lot, but it was what I needed, obviously.
When I met Tim, he took me often to Lincoln Centre and to Carnegie Hall. I fell in love with Beethoven’s Piano Concertos. And many other wonderful classical pieces.
But I am a fickle person…I really hate to admit it.
My choice in music has always been very eclectic. Although I still really enjoy classical, these days I am more likely to listen to…
Grant asked me not long ago how I can sleep at night after listening to such “rousing” music. He imagines I get my brain stirred up, I suppose. I don’t normally listen late at night, but it certainly doesn’t keep me awake.
His choice is “rave” music, which I also like, except to my ear it all sounds much the same.
The gold writing there says “Dragon”, or I guess it’s supposed to. Two Steps From Hell Is an American production company formed in 2006 by a Norwegian, Thomas Bergersen and a Brit., Nick Phoenix.
They have written music for some well known films: Interstellar, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and X-Men.
“Dragon”, is my current favorite, but I really like “Vanquish” too. It produces images in my head, like a movie, just as certain pieces of classical music do.
The title “New World Symphony” sort of gives away what Dvorak was trying to portray, and I always pictured the American West. Something about the image of horses running in the wide open spaces stirs me.
When my dad played “Swan Lake” I would sit picturing in my mind the whole ballet. I wanted to be a choreographer!
Dreaming up imaginary scenes is so distracting. Certainly better than sitting there just having a big think.
For me, that has not always been the best thing to do.
Two more favourites. The trouble is, when I fall for a piece of music I can’t stop listening and then eventually I ruin it for myself. I have heard other people say they do this, so maybe it’s not just me.
I do watch the cats, to make sure none of the sounds I listen to disturbs them. So far they don’t seem to notice, one way or the other.
My parents had a budgie once that liked Chopin. Birds definitely respond to all sorts of sounds.
My aunty Win had a little dog that was disturbed. She objected to human speech. Anybody’s and everybody’s. Her response was to bark as only a Jack Russell can. It rather killed conversation. Poor Chini. It was not her fault. Nor my aunt’s. She just had loose screws. She had actually been rejected by a clergyman.
I do still go back to my old passion:
For example:
and :watch?v=Z3FJxDsa-5k
Here is a piece of music that pierces my soul.
Something about deep Russian voices and the sound of the Russian language too, perhaps.
I enjoy almost any choir, but this is special.
Without doubt, music has and continues to get me through the dark times. I can listen to almost anything, I just think it all depends on how it vibrates with your soul at any given time.
Indeed!
Yes!
Where would we be without all the great music that truly can soothe our souls.
I used to have a dog, a cross between collie and corgi, who loved me playing a piece from Schumann’s Scenes from Childhood on the piano. He would roll around on the carpet in great ecstasy! Music feeds the soul like nothing else can.