Media Monday

Musical Inspirations

Something a little different, folks, because I’m posting the videos out of order. The explanation before the example.

So, if you’re have a “too long; didn’t read” moment, skip to the music video at the end and enjoy.

I’m a fan of some diverse genres of music. I’ve mentioned that my dad used to listen to 60s Classic rock, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, etc. I was exposed to Disco as a child of the 70s and 80s. In the 80s, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal was my “jam,” as folks used to say. I was also exposed to Jazz from studying the trumpet from elementary school to high school.

In college, I had a free elective to use up, and I didn’t want to add to the heavy workload from pursuing an engineering degree. Mind you, I pursued that one but never did catch it.

Anyway, I saw there was an Appreciation of Music class.

“Hey, I like music! Let’s give that a shot.”

We listened to mainly Classical music, and from the first day, “mind” + “blown.” 🤯

I had no idea about all the different subgenres, Gregorian Chant, Baroque, Romantic, and Impressionist.

I thrive on order though I find it really hard to organize my own life. And Baroque was all about order, especially Bach. Mozart stretched the boundaries of order, but it was the Impressionists that chucked it out the window and grabbed me by the ear.

Mind you, Impressionist visual representations doesn’t reach me like its music does. I’ve been to that museum in Madrid, where Picasso’s works are mainly found, and, for the most part, I don’t feel them unless I’ve had them explained to me. I took a class in art history later, but that’s a story for a different day.

But one painting resonated with me because I’d studied the history of the time it was composed. Go and look up Picasso’s “Guernica” and study up a little on the Spanish Civil War some time. Maybe that painting will resonate with you, too.

And if you want to read a MilSF story inspired by the Spanish Civil War, give Jerry Pournelle’s short story “His Truth Goes Marching On” a read.

A darn good short story, IMHO.

Anyway, in that original class, we heard Debussy’s “Three Nocturnes,” and when I heard Nuages, clouds, I was no longer on campus, stressing out over my schedule, finding a place to park before the lot filled up, and all my other concerns. For the length of that song, I was on a beach, watching the clouds far overhead.

And whenever I need to be away from whatever chaos is roiling through my life, I play this piece of music.

Have a great week! 👋