Reading a Musical Mind

I've known music since I was in my mother's womb. But I never truly fall in love in it. But when I did, I only know two types of people: musicians and non-musicians. When I mean musicians, I do not mean people who earn cheques from music, but people who recognize beauty, who are willing to pursue and appreciate them.

Working as a musician is often considered as a struggling life. A huge challenge of putting food on the table. Society who are more considerate might say that they are suffering because of their art. Then why are musicians doing what they are doing? I never truly understand the reason either. Not until I witness the lives of my musician friends. Then I realize that just when you watch their face when they perform, and know how happy they are with the choice they made for a profession, attend their concerts or recital, and watch their face afterwards when parents come up and tell them how wonderful the concert was, and see how that makes them feel, then, you'll understand why they do what they do.

You should be carried to a different world when you go hear a great musician. But when I say another world, I do not mean an escapist one—a real world. Music is something more than just an escapist activity.

A talented musician lingers in his talent, but limit himself in intelligence. But in intelligence, also linger his exploration. Because the right way of playing an instrument is not to bother about how to play at all, but how to explore, interpret and experience joy. Because music is so alive, I conclude that you ought to play music as a dedication for an individual. Like Lang Lang who played Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 movement 2 for his mom, who supported him from afar, who could not witness his first successful concert. It was the most alive concerto he has ever played. So passionate, everybody who listen to it will be under the spell of his music. His playing was soft, almost celestial, yet diabolic.
Beethoven Piano Concerto 4, one of my favorite concertos, is a mysterious piece written by a mysterious man. Which in my opinion, imitates life itself. In the first movement represents a problem, a mystery. The second movement tells a story of the problem. And the third movement brings solution to everything. So rich and so unpredictable. I really love how Lang Lang discusses this piece. Check this out:

Playing music, in my opinion, is like making love itself. When a musician plays an instrument, there was an intimate relationship that none other in the room can fathom. Other people just can witness passion, love and such divine ecstasy. And that passion strikes everybody else, bringing laughter and tears of no concrete reason.

"With all its spiritual qualities, I don't think that music necessarily makes people better. That's what Handel was hoping to do with his music. 

But we know that this is not always the case. 

Of course being a musician I often ask myself what is the meaning of what I and my colleagues do, of what we are devoting our life to. 

I'm sure that as time get by, my ideas will change. 

And I will come to a different conclusion. 

So far, I've come to a conclusion that the meaning of music is that it elevates us into the world of the sublime. 

Which does not mean that it makes us better. 

Which does not mean that it cannot be used for evil purposes. 

Wagner and Wagner's music are perfect examples of that. 

So what we do with great music depends entirely on us. 

I do believe however, that the positive energy of music has a potential of inspiring people for something good. 

But that again, depends on us, on the people."

-Evgeny Kissin on "Music Remains a Mystery"

Finally, music is like us. It starts with nothing and ends with nothing. But it does not mean that we never hear nothing at all. Every dissonances, every restrain, and every chaos exist to bring hope. And hope brings longing to a divine celestial harmony. Alike, a broken path exist to reveal God's grace and glory. At the end, every dissonance resolved, every restrain diminished, and every chaos silenced. Finally, we remember not the silence at the end, but the sublime journey one lived.

"We have to believe that the miracle can happen. 

And this, you don't do with your mind. 

You just believe. 

And it happens more and more when you believe. 

Music is a miracle. 

It's a sign that miracle exists. 

Your soul opening to something that is unknown, but you go there. 

You just go, you just give yourself."

- Maria Joao Pires

Your Listener,

Alice