Monday, August 27, 2018

The Mystique of Music . . .


Passing thru the living room to feed the birds and make my coffee, I turn on Easy Listening, as usual.  Then I let Rocky out for his morning ritual.

Sitting down with my coffee, Rocky joins me momentarily, as the sounds of the theme from Schindler's List begin.

I pause as the melancholy melody fills my heart and soul with such poignant emotions.

How do they do it?  Composers, I mean.

Twelve notes produce such unimaginable combinations.  Well, I shouldn’t say unimaginable ‘cuz someone does.  Imagine them, I mean.

Listening to this music that is SO BEFITTING of the story . . . the sadness, the tragedy, the pain – it’s all there.  In the notes, the melody.

And then – think about this.  The difference in composing in a Minor Key – or a Major Key:

F Sharp – it’s the same note as G Flat.
C Sharp – it’s the same note as D Flat
and so on.

    Except (3) instances: There is no note identified as C Flat or E sharp or F Flat.

    So why . . . how come . . . if you compose in the Minor Key – instead of in the Major Key – it changes the SOUND, the EMOTION . . . EVERYTHING --.

– to produce music such as the theme from Schindler’s List – evoking sounds/emotions that are –

– melancholy, dismal, heartbroken. mournful. pessimistic. somber. sorrowful.

    Whereas, music in the Major Key makes you want to sing along, dance, jump for joy, or blissfully close your eyes and relax while your mind finds its Happy Place.

    How can this be?

    I can’t explain it but I sure can love it . . .

    The Mystique of Music . . . is a Blessing Beyond Measure.

* * * * * 
“Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.”
—  Pablo Casals

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/pablo_casals_100781


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