Musical Recollection

[Robin68]

I have taught myself to play several different instruments by ear. Because I had learned the clarinet in school, I quickly picked up most of the fingering for the recorder. Playing music was something I did alone and it was during these times when I emoted freely. I learned to play many different songs including classical pieces by ear. I remember that as a teen, I used the recorder to express a deep sense of sadness and grief that I did not fully understand. One piece in particular stands out because not only did I learn it, but I played it endlessly. It was "Pavane for a Dead Princess" which was composed by Marice Ravel. You may be familiar with the beautiful piece. Looking back now, I see clearly that this was an expression of my own grief over my own dead (or buried) princess.  I would be curious to learn if music is evocative for others in this forum in the same way. 

 

Hugs,

 

Robin

 

 

[Astrid]

 

5 hours ago, Robin68 said:

.  I would be curious to learn if music is evocative for others in this forum in the same way. 

 

Yes. Music is an important outlet for my innermost feelings. I'll improvise on the piano to match my mood and relieve stress. 

[Jani]

8 hours ago, Robin68 said:

"Pavane for a Dead Princess" which was composed by Marice Ravel.

I love this piece of music.  It has a haunting quality. 

 

I have music playing in my home all the time.  Its so very important to me.  There are precious few genre that I don't enjoy.  

[Robin68]

9 hours ago, Jani said:

I have music playing in my home all the time.  Its so very important to me.

It seems clear to me that music is a wonderful tool for healing and becoming. Thank you both. This is validating.

 

Hugs,

 

Robin

[Astrid]

20 hours ago, Robin68 said:

music is a wonderful tool for healing

Oh, yes!  There is actually the occupation of "music therapist" -- someone who visits with groups and/or individuals who can be positively affected by music.  Those who are unable to speak, but who can hear, for example, can benefit.  Even those who are deaf can feel and respond to vibration from music.  Music is magical ??

 

Astrid

[Robin68]

4 hours ago, Astrid said:

Oh, yes!  There is actually the occupation of "music therapist" -- someone who visits with groups and/or individuals who can be positively affected by music.

Your right! Surely that is an obvious connection but I had not considered it. Is that what you do for a living? ????

[Astrid]

My degrees are all in music (piano, music theory and composition), but I ended up as a software engineer (pays the groceries much better).  While I retired two years ago, I still stay very active as a composer -- music has always been my personally most favorite thing to do, and creating music is sheer delight.  

 

We really, really need more humanities (including music, art, dance, theatre, etc.) in our schools and our grown-up lives and a little less emphasis on STEM, in my opinion (even though I'm someone who did complex coding for a living).  Creates more well-rounded individuals who, surprise, are likely to be more accepting of, say, queer people ?????

[Robin68]

Another memory about music surfaces often even though it traces back to my childhood. As a child, I listened to my parent's records collection of musicals and memorized all the songs. Of course during the 50s and 60s musicals like My Fair Lady and Westside Story were extremely popular. I would sing my favorite songs along with these albums even though I was too shy to do it publicly. Soon, I was collecting my own albums. Most significantly, it gave me a private venue for singing songs intended for females. I learned "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady and "I Feel Pretty" from Westside Story and many other songs. I have a tenor voice, giving me a higher range than many males but when I sensed my voice was changing in my teens, I was so distraught and tried to use falsetto to reach some of the high notes I could no longer reach otherwise.  In many ways, I am describing a private world I created for myself and I don't think this was accidental. I was hiding elements of femininity that I hoped no one would discover.  

 

Robin