The Effects of Classical Music on an Open Mind

Growing up, I didn’t listen to classical music. I suspect that there may have been a classical radio station on the dial – or at least one that sometimes programmed classical music – but that isn’t where my thinking lay at the time. In hindsight, I missed out on a musical treasure trove. Ah, the tragedies of youth. :-)

I wasn’t alone, of course. This article in the Kansas City Star summarizes a similar epiphany encountered by (former) pop music critic Eric Silbin. Once he heard the Bach Cello Suites, he was hooked. In his words:

“It was like being hit by musical lightning. I was really struck by the intensity and beauty of this music, which was so different from anything I had heard before”

Mr. Silbin hit the nail on the head. When I ambled into classical music, I was amazed at the depth it contained compared to my daily diet of pop, band music, and contemporary compositions and arrangements. It was the real deal, and even though I was unfamiliar with classical music as a whole, I could immediately appreciate its beauty and complexity – at least at a basic level.

There are still classical pieces I don’t like and times I listen to other music; after all, good music spans all types…and so does bad. :-) But like Mr. Silbin, Bach and his fellow composers enchant me. Especially Bach, and especially Pablo Casals’ recordings of those aforementioned cello suites. If you haven’t heard them, click this link to check them out:

J. S. Bach: Suites for Cello, 1, 2 & 3

Keep in mind this is one man, on one instrument, recorded around 70 years ago. Personally, this is one of my all-time favorite CDs.

Whatever you play, keep playing! But don’t be afraid to branch out in your listening and playing. There’s treasure out there, folks! Don’t leave it undiscovered.

All the best,
Mark