Enthusiastically The Teenager recalled the highlights of a classical music video he watched in Freshman English class. I listened with interest as he repeated a statistical reference that 3% of the population enjoys classical music, and yet the
TED talks video claimed everyone likes classical music they just don't know it yet.
Music is part of my soul, loving everything from old school Fleetwood Mac to new favorites like "Move like Jagger". And yet I responded ambivalently with..."Ya, I don't love classical music." It's the typical sentence I give when "lukewarm" about a topic...not my best mother moment.
With the Teenager's music reflections floating around in my head the next day, I searched for the video. Something had impassioned my son and I needed to discover for myself what it was. With amazing Internet sleuthing skills I soon found
Benjamin Xander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic who delivers a charismatic passionate charge for classical music.
His piano Chopin prelude so beautifully performed was both moving and exhilarating. Xander gave instruction to listen and understand the Vision of the entire prelude and not just the note-to-note.
What the great conductor expresses with keys of the piano ring true. The similarities between life and Chopin emerge....seeing life as an entire journey and not just the joy or pain of the day.
Listen to it and see if you don't feel the same insight. Furthermore, Xander inspires as he humbly asks "Who am I being, that my children's eyes are not shining?" Isn't that lovely...and all from a little Chopin.
While definitely inspired by Benjamin Xander, my greatest satisfaction came from simply listening and learning from my son. Admittedly, I still have much to glean from each of my offspring... including the heavenly one.
As I sit down to this post and write under photos of my soon to be concert pianist grand babies, I can assure you there is Mozart, Vivaldi, and especially Chopin in the background accompanying my thoughts.
What are you listening to?
