Moonlight Sonata

When I was in college, before the first day of class, they always had this HUGE poster sale.  I walked into this gigantic room and there were tons of posters.    I would just flip out.  I never wanted the 21 bottles of beer on the wall poster.  I went to freaky section.  The one with posters of Stonehenge and abstract objects.  You know I am in college - I am going places - I am in an institute of higher learning - I'm a DEEP THINKER!!!!!  One poster in particular I will never forget.   I had to have it.  It was an excerpt of Moonlight Sonata....takes me back....to another time........

I am 7 years old....My Mommy is a wonderful pianist and she sits down to play.  I look at her hands and wonder how she reaches all the keys.  Her music is so beautiful.  She plays Mozart, Chopin, Weber --- and then...Beethoven.   My sister and I crawl under our baby grand piano and listen to the sad melody.   I see my mommy's foot gently pressing and releasing the pedal...the music filling the room.     The mind that wrote those notes.  Those hands that first played them.  What were they feeling?   I begin to weep not knowing why.  This was my first appreciation of beauty and feeling and great emotion in music.     I look at my sister and she has her eyes closed.   She feels it too. 

Have YOU ever felt the music?  Not listened to it.  But felt it?  There are many songs since that day that have stirred such emotion.  Some with words, some without words, some with words I don't understand.  "The Music of the Night" (Phantom) , "Last Night of the World" (Miss Siagon), "You and I Both" (Jason Mraz),  "On My Own" (Les Mis),  "Why" (Annie Lenox) , "No Me Ames" (Marc Anthony), "Traveling Soldier" (Dixie Chicks),  "Trouble in the Fields" (Nancy Griffith)  Crush (Dave Matthews Band),  "Could it be any Harder"  (The Calling),  Fantasie (Mozart).....sorry I got carried away.   Each one of these along with many others, bring me to some emotion when I hear it.  I go to another place -- if I can -- in my mind.   Music is a train ride through the county, its a Sunday drive, its a dance by the seashore, its a beautiful poem -- If you could just FEEL IT. 

Back in my dorm room.....I have placed the poster above my bed....and at night...when it is quiet....I can shut my eyes and I'm  7 again...My mom is playing the notes....I'm under the piano and I feel it.

Remember:  Music is more than something you listen to....Music is so much more than that.