Magnificent, Moving, Magical Music

Posted on by Joyful2bee

Music has been an integral part of my life as far back as I can remember. My mother played the piano often, once her four kids could stand or sit still long enough. I remember her playing very old songs from a bygone era; songs such as “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue,”  which I sang recently and still remembered the words! This was originally sung in the Roaring 20s when my grandmother was a young woman. Have a listen at Guy Lombardo and his band:

Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue

We grew up in the church so mother played hymns from an old Baptist hymnal from her youth. My younger sister and I listened in wonder and soon learned many of the songs of mother’s church piano playing days. When old enough my brother and youngest sister joined in as well.

Then when I was in school in the 1st grade we were taught songs that we enjoyed like “A Frog Went a Courting.” This song had something like 20 verses of which only a few I can still remember. Another song I can still sing is “Get Along Home, Cindy, Cindy,” which I heard sung by Rick Nelson on a John Wayne movie named “Rio Bravo.”

Ricky Nelson – Get Along Home Cindy

Our parents loved jazz so we listened to Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass, Al Hirt’s New Orleans jazz, both of trumpet fame, and Pete Fountain of clarinet fame. There was also classical music as well. Each of us had some training on a piano or violin.

As soon as we were old enough we joined the church choir and later attended church choir camp. I sang a one verse solo in front of a huge church when I was about 12 for the Christmas Cantata. My solo was to sing the cow’s song, from “The Friendly Beasts.”

I said the cow, all white and red.

I gave him my manger for his bed,

I gave him my hay to pillow his head,

I said the cow all white and red.”

When our family traveled, aside from playing the alphabet game with road signs, we would sing songs acapella, (without an instrument). We sang rounds and hymns and other songs.

As I grew up I listened to the radio (except when doing my homework because I ended up singing along and not doing the work). I used to listen to my 45’s, then LP’s. Later audio tapes then CD’s filled my ears with music. Now, possibly better, is Pandora!

Later when I started dating as an older teenager, my future husband introduced me to heavy rock. I attended concerts by Alice Cooper, Rare Earth, Yes, Queen, Neil Diamond, James Taylor and several more. My exposure to this music rounded out my knowledge and love for more and quite different kinds of music.

My future husband gifted me with 45’s, the small records with a bigger hole in the middle than 33’s. One I love was “Windy”, by the Association. I still remember it.

To this day Carole King, Carlie Simon, Jimmy Buffet and James Taylor are my favorite musicians to sing along with in the shower or driving. I still enjoy their words and melodies. But I still love many of the hymns I grew up with as well.

At an early age I remember a dream that I had about a monster who was in the room with me. He grew bigger and bigger and more threatening until the moment I started playing music on the piano. He then calmed down and went to sleep.

I later wondered if this dream was precipitated from my young mind’s interpretation of the quote, or actually the misquote, “Music soothes the savage beast.” The actual quote is by William Congreve from 1697, “The Mourning Bride:” An excerpt follows:

Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast,
To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.
I’ve read, that things inanimate have mov’d,
And, as with living Souls, have been inform’d,
By Magick Numbers and persuasive Sound.

Music calmed, relaxed, distracted, inspired dancing and exercise. I remember fondly singing to my first son when he was a baby.

But my favorite of all pieces of music is Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony: “Ode To Joy.”  See if you don’t feel joy! This piece moves me every time I hear it! Please listen to the whole video for the final effect of this exquisitely moving piece. I promise you won’t regret it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBaHPND2QJg

There are many forms of music as well: the music of birds singing; the tinkling of water as it falls from a water fountain or a babbling brook; the laughter of a baby or child; the sound of the wind stirring the leaves of countless trees; the gentle sounds of a fragile wind chime; the exquisite sounds emitted by a gifted musician on a violin or other instrument.

Then there are the effects of music on us. When we are sad and need a good cry, some songs have a cathartic effect and help  us heal. Other times, music can stimulate our boisterous side and make us energized.

I recently experienced another effect that I had forgotten. Music can make you want to dance. I went to my first dance party in years. I danced some Bollywood style moves, some belly dancing moves, some hustle, and other moves from the 60’s and 70’s. I just had to get up and dance (until I just had to sit down and rest!)

Music is all around us. Remember to be quiet and listen to the beating of your own heart and think of it as music. Revel in the diversity of the gift of music.

99 thoughts on “Magnificent, Moving, Magical Music”

      1. I read your post on Reggae and on kids going to college and how badly they were adapting sometimes to college life. I wrote a response on the last one and plan to respond to the Reggae one in a minute. You express your posts quite eloquently. Keep up the good work

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                    7. I can do that, yes. I sent one to her about an hour ago; I’m sure she’ll reply at her earliest convenience.

                      Liked your facebook page; this way I won’t miss any of your posts, hahaha. With so many sites I follow, some of the posts that really matter get piled away in cyberspace.

                      Liked by 1 person

                    8. I know the feeling!! I think she will help you. She has worked with several different disabilities, so I think she can at the least give you some great references to research. What degree(?) Are you working on?

                      Liked by 1 person

                    12. I don’t actually have her phone number but if you use Facebook, search for:Dori Staehle. Send her a message about what you are doing. I will send her a link to your blog. I don’t know what WhatsApp is. You can search on Facebook for me:Joyful2BeeBlogs.com

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  5. Right from the lullabies we hear when we are in mom’s tummy till we die music is the only solace that can be to suit your mood and yet be non-judgmental . Thanks for sharing. Beautiful lines too by William.

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    1. Delighted that you enjoyed my post. I guess the song still holds for me:” I got the music in me!” I hope you listened to the Flashmob video at the end for Ode to Joy. It always makes me happy.

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  7. Wonderful post, combining all those memories and genres of music. I turned music into my career, organizing people who have waayyyy more talent than myself. Not a millionaire, but it’s lovely to be surrounded by the music. And about soothing the beast, I remember a big, creepy spider coming toward me as I was at the piano. I pounded the deep bass keys and it stopped. Guess it thought a monster was stomping nearby. Thank you!

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    1. Delighted to hear that you enjoyed this post. Music is good for the soul, the mind, and the body! How cool is was that you stopped the spider like that!!! Thank you for sharing your story!!

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  14. Sounds like your childhood was similar to mine. Half of us played instruments and everyone but me sang in various choirs. There was a time I wanted to be a rock star but I was the only one that didn’t have good vocal pipes in the family so I gave up that dream. There is nothing like music when you are sad and many songs take be back to a specific place in time.

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  15. I used to “stay home sick” from school just so that I could sing to along to my favorite records, as well! And my favorites also included Carly Simon. Also, Barbra Streisand and Carole King…

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  18. Music is life! You are awesome!
    I’m Isabella Freedom – a independent rockstar from Finland but Los Angeles is my forever home since 3 years back. I am music. I want to free the mind with music. I need more people to know that I’m here to raise the vibration, awareness and rock out.

    My biggest success so far is my song TAME ME. I made the Music Video myself and have three more, check it out! In the video TAME ME I’m saying fck you to fear and claiming my freedom. I have three characters in the video representing 1) The inner child 2) The warrior – the reactive 3) The Higher self. If you love it please help spread the word and/or write about it. If you need help with anything in return let me know.
    Much much love you way!
    Isabella Freedom

    http://www.IsabellaFreedom.com

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    1. I found your post on reggae quite interesting. Living in the USA and hearing reggae music in movies mostly, I always thought it was music played in the islands for entertainment. Thank you for stimulating my curiosity about reggae. I listened to a few songs on Pandora and looked it I on Google. I understand better now that it expressed anger,criticism of the status quo, religion and social problems through its inclusive variety of styles:rhythm, blues,jazz, and parts of other musical styles. It is kind of like the songs played in the 60’s and 70’s protesting against war and other problems of those times. Thank you for teaching me about this style of music. Yes, I have listened to Bob Marley and I hope reggae will continue to grow like the rock music I grew I with did.

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  29. Pingback: Word Break | rfljenksy – Practicing Simplicity

  34. One of the first (and only) songs I taught myself to play on the keyboard was “Ode to Joy”. My sons had beer given a keyboard and I was determined to play it.
    Music is undeniably important in my life. I don’t have the wonderful background that you have, but I love to sing! Lullabies were often Christmas carols I knew by heart. As a preschool teacher, I would just randomly make up songs to entertain the children in my care.
    I have a long list of songs that speak to my heart, especially when I am feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
    Thank you for sharing!
    Bitsy

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    1. Blessed Bits, how wonderful that you love music so much too! Whether trained or not, music from the heart is the best, especially when shared with those you love. Delighted to meet you, Bitsy! Thank you for commenting and sharing your experiences with loving music!

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