music

[leelastarsky]

I'm listening to the PoA soundtrack as I type...  and having something of a religious experience over the track which I assume is "Window to the Past"  *swoons*  and "Buckbeak's flight" is close behind. (as far as favourite themes on this soundtrack goes)  John Williams is a god.

 

What is it about music that it can have such a physical effect on you?  It can literally send me into a state of ecstasy.  Or am I just strange like that?  I know it used to affect my grandmother like this too (Strauss and Chopin particularly), so it's obviously a family trait.  I think my 13yo son has it too.  He came to me the other day when I had Riverdance playing, looking confused and concerned, and wanted to know why this music affected him so when other music didn't.  I told him it was his Celtic soul answering the call of the bodhran, but maybe it's more than that?  He loves bagpipes too, and I'll admit (somewhat shamefully) he hasn't had a lot of exposure to those from us. 

 

But what is it about a sweeping violin symphony or a harp that can reduce me to a wibbling puddle in a couple of phrases?

 

On an intellectual level I know it's probably no different to being able to draw, but I cannot for the life of me fathom how composers write music. Especially orchestral composers.  They don't just write one theme of music; they write a track for every instrument.  Do they hear it all in their heads first? 

I guess it's something I'll never comprehend, but I adore what they produce; it is food for the soul.

 

 

Comments

[leelastarsky.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I got it at the AOL link via HPANA. You can't download it to keep as such, but you can play it for as long as you want, as often as you want. And it is the whole CD. I'm desperate to buy it! I think it's a week or two away...

Yes, my son is rather lovely. Gorgeous in fact. He's the first of my kids to do the 'teen' thing (his older brother has Down syndrome, so he's a bit different) and it is dead-set gorgeous to watch this potential adult blossom. He's swiftly moving from the 'everything is B&W' phase into 'shades of grey'. Thinking conceptually and asking deep and meaningful questions. When he was in grade 6 he decided he wanted to be a pilot in the RAAF and now, in yr8, he is still focussed on this path. Don't ask me where he gets that from; his dad and I are both artistic! Admittedly, I adore flying and wanted to be an astronaut, but as I couldn't count to save my life, that was out of the question. Fortunately, my son is like his dad in that regard and rather brilliant at math, so at least he has that going for him!

[myf.livejournal.com]

*smiles* I'm doing child psych at the moment, and everything you're saying makes a lot of sense to me. I love to watch other people's kids, see how they grow up. My nieces and nephew are just 2 months, 6 months and 2 and a half years, so i have plenty of time to watch and enjoy. And hopefully one day (in the far far off future), kids of my own.

I might try again for that AOL thing.

[leelastarsky.livejournal.com]

I just had to add that I love books too. Reading a book is like a cinematic experience for me.

I'm a dreadful hoarder of them simply because I might want to read it again one day!

I can (and do) read my favourites over and over.