Thought About Music With Touch Of History

Thought About Music…

June 8, 2009 in Just Thoughts 1 Comment

“Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.”
Ludwig van Beethoven

“Music does bring people together. It allows us to experience the same emotions. People everywhere are the same in heart and spirit. No matter what language we speak, what color we are, the form of our politics or the expression of our love and our faith, music proves: We are the same.“
John Denver

“Thought About Music”
(With Touch of History)
By Maya

Please allow me to call you friends, because you are all welcomed to my site as such. It really doesn’t matter what brought you here. Coincidence, curiosity or search for that special “something”…

However, I must admit that I have followed one special ulterior motive with this article.

Let me explain.I wasn’t born an American, although I am one as naturalized citizen for over 2 decades now. I accepted this country as my new home and love it. However, my sense of justice and some strong desire in me to put wrong into right, at least in my very insignificant capacity, led me to…well read on…. Some of you might have noticed that I post Russian songs in my “Music” section. I am not Russian born, I am from central Europe, CR, but I am “half” Russian after my mother. That together with good knowledge of language, numerous long visits of that country, studies of its culture and literature, but mainly knowing Russians rather well, allows me at least to try, to open “eyes” of those who are open minded.

You know, I often hear “Russian evil empire” and similar expressions. Did it ever occur to you that “propaganda” is the culprit in either accepting favorably another country (s) or not? I mean propaganda on both sides, of course. I am lucky to know both sides sufficiently well to be able bring up my point. I am convinced that IF would be possible for people of all nations to chat freely together, without malicious propaganda and government involvement, there shall be boundless friendships and very few wars!!! Blaming ordinary people for world events is foolish. It would be like now everybody in the world who lost some assets in a stock market would be blaming American people. Do you see my point? So, I discovered this. Russians are just ordinary people, just like people are anywhere in the world, they are generous, hospitable, friendly, merry, and warm, love their country and what’s more they are the THE best singers. I stand behind this statement very strongly. Practically everybody sings and sings well. Especially in Ukraina I witnessed that when people gather, no matter where, there is always someone pulling out harmonica or balalaika and singing goes on. Songs… romantic, hunting, sad, happy, old, new, but mainly folk songs… everyone knows them by heart. My mother was a great singer and I was blessed to inherit good voice, but unfortunately by some tragic events my carrier as an opera singer has been thwarted. . But this is another story…as it is always with me.
Old Russian romances are hunting and deep and that stems from unbelievable suffering of Russians for centuries. During my studies I could not sleep reading about that. In time of WW2 Russians showed tremendous heroism, not just solders, but women, even children. Nation losses were in high millions. And do you know what helped them tremendously? Not good food (there was just hunger) not warmth (endless thousands ended frozen to death) not any comfort (not even dreaming about it) there was just desperation and uncertainty of survival…. but their songs. It was their music. Solders sang when moment of quiet introduced itself, women sang when working in war factories and helping wounded… I can go on and on.

And that is also what I would like to put on pedestal. Music. Music is powerful, music is balm, it can express all possible moods and feelings and life without it would be like a rose without its flower and leaves, just a dry stick with thorns left. Every nation has its very own, but this one due to its special history and superior talent comes across as somewhat more significant. I bet that all of you felt power of music at any given time, have memories associated with it so strong that when you hear it, reminiscence present itself momentarily. It is well known thing that hardship makes one stronger, and also more appreciative of all good. Hardship and suffering created great melodies, full of sadness, deep emotions, but also of hope and happiness.
I think that you understand my message by now and when you hear any of the songs I posted in my “Music” section you’ll hear them with somewhat different “ear”. You might feel and understand their message a little better. To end this long statement (hate to call it lesson) I would like to introduce you also to one of the “most powerful” songs created in WW2 times (by the way there are dozens of those) that led Russian soldiers in their fight against Hitler’s armies. Even those felt its power and I myself shiver whenever I hear it. There are better recordings (this one has a bit cut off beginning,but this one has English translation… Look for it below, its name is “Holy War.” Also, realize enormous singing talents when you hear Russian army choir (superior arrangement, augmentation) and soloist (greatest tenor) in song “Nightingale”, also click below. Are bad people capable of such an emotions? Think about it…. Thank you so much for your precious attention and enjoy music. It is said and I strongly believe that through it we understand each other well no matter nationality.

With you in peace,
Maya

PS: I found out that song “Nightingale” is not available now, hopefully will be again soon.
(In this song N. are asked not to sing when solders are tired and need rest. Singer is now retired WW2 hero)