the arts

My friend Kristi's post inspired me to write this.

I was brought up by musician parents. My dad is an amateur violinist and my mom is a professional pianist and organist. She also sings with the Houston Symphony Chorus. One of my first memories is of my dad putting his violin in my arms and guiding my hands as "we" played "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". I began violin lessons just before I turned eleven and I still play, though I should practice a lot more than I do.

I love music, especially classical. Most of my favorite music artists have some connection to classical music: Josh Groban, Enya, Elton John, Billy Joel, The Beatles, etc.

My favorite classical composers are many, but I'll name a few: Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Puccini, Samuel Barber, Brahms, etc.

Like Kristi, I often wish I had been alive when these composers were putting out music. I know that many of them were not appreciated during their lifetime. I think the arts deserve much more appreciation than they get.

I frequently long for the old days. The days when a person who speaks articulately was not seen as a freak of nature. The days when movies had an actual plot and had actors who were not only good-looking but also talented, not the special effects that try to make up for the lack of plot. I admit, the special effects are impressive, but sometimes are just too much.

The closest you usually get to finding someone who does like classical music is when they like movie music. I like movie music--it's great. But who do you think those composers were inspired by? After taking a Music 101 class this semester, I have noticed similarities between John Williams pieces and say, Wagner. I find it intriguing, actually.

I might be seen as old-fashioned, but a Devotional speaker once said that a person who enjoys the refined things in life (good music, good art, etc.) is one who is very close to our Heavenly parents. I'll have to find that talk again.