Village Squire, 1979-03, Page 28of music. If it be true that diamonds are
for ever. then surely music is for ever and a
dao.
An easy introduction
to good music
Squire readers with a desire to explore
fresh pleasures, may ask, "How can I find
my way, unaided, into the world of fine
music?"
Perhaps the following suggestions may
lead you through the golden door.
First, two things must be understood.
Unless you grew up in an atmosphere
brightened by the strains of good music,
which became a part of you just as much as
the love of your parents embraced you,
music great music, that is, seems to be an
squired tasted. Second you must abandon
the foolish notion that classical music is
somehow a "sissy indulgence" and
associated in a way with snobbery. This is
utter nonsense, as in Europe, the
birthplace of great music, both the
'threadbare as well as the rich have a
lasting love for Verdi.
A word of caution before you rush off to
purchase records, or you may fall flat on
your face. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
while it may be the greatest piece of music
ever composed, is not a good starting
place. As in other areas, we should plan to
crawl before setting off at a fast trot.
There is one more comment to be made
before we embark on the great adventure.
It is a statement you will have to accept on
faith, with the promise that time will prove
it to be gospel. Here it is, bang on the
barrel -head. The bulk of the noise that has
flooded the airwaves from the advent of
rock and roll in the 'S0's bears the same
relationship to genuine good music as last
week's fly -blown, grey -green tripe does to
a delicious porterhouse roast fresh from
the oven.
Do I hear a scream of protest. Well, the
explanation is quite simple when we stop to
consider. We all learn to accept what we
grow up with. Consequently the child born
on a busy street learns to tolerate the rattle
and crash of traffic beneath his window.
The man who works in an abattoir comes to
accept the stench of blood and guts. The
airline stewardess becomes immune to the
26 Village Squire, March 1979
wild screech of jet engines. So in the same
way for lack of anything to compare with,
we, accept the nasal whine of Nashville
songstresses and thephoney bleating of
rock -singers, to the accompaniment of
ear-splitting electronic instruments. After
all the wretched children picking their way
through the garbage heaps of the Third
World, have no way of developing gourmet
tastes. As Peter Truman on Global TV
would put it. "That's not news. It's a
fact.
For starters, let's say you are fond of the
warm sentimental ballods of Stephen
Foster. Let us assume as well that you
enjoy some of the rousing old hymn tunes
and in common with everyone else find
your toes tapping at the sound of a Strauss
waltz. So here you are with a fine
foundation on which to build. Search out
more of Foster's sentimental ballads. Look
beyond the ever popular Blue Danube for
more waltzes and then try listening to some
of Strauss' operettas like The Gypsy
Baron and die Fledermaus. Bend an ear to
the equally tuneful music of Franz Lehar.
Try Offenbach's Gait Parisienne for size.
Now before you move to the next plateau,
look for the recordings of Augustin Lara, a
Mexican contemporary of ours who has all
the sparkle of Stauss, plus a warm
Spanish-American note. If you respond to
music that goes tum, tum, tum
accompanied by comic libbreto, than
Gilbert and Sullivan are tailor made for
you.
Grand opera. Do I hear a groan of
derision? Never slam a door without
looking beyond the threshold. If there is a
person on earth who can walk away from a
performance of Barber of Seville, Marriage
of Figaro or Rigoletto, without puckering
his lips to try the arias on his own, then he
is tonedeaf.
Let's pause for a moment and take our
second wind. Opera will illustrate a point.
Now, I'm a dyed in the wool opera buff. I
This does not committ me to liking all
operas. In fact there are some I'd rather
pay to stay away from than sit and listen to.
I don't respond to the music of Sibeleus.
Half an hour with Bruchner is enough to
send me up the wall screaming. Neither
you or I are bound to enjoy everrything on
the musical platter. The world of great
music is such an overwhelming smorgas-
bordof goodies that a lifetime would hardly
be sufficient to sample all the offerings.
Take your choice as you move along. You
will not go home hungry.
Off we go again leaving the music of
Straus. von Weber and Lara for something
more subtle, which will demand more care
in listening. Let's try a sampling of Haydn,
Chopin, Schumann, Vivaldi, Schubert and.
Mozart, to name just a few among the
many. Of course the greatest of these is
Mozart. Let's pause and hear what van
Loon has to say about his music: "The
music of Mozart is like the water that flows
from pleasant fountains. It starts
somewhere among the lonely moun-
tain peaks. It flows down amidst the forests
and pastures .Then it was taken in
hand. It was tamed. It was given form and
shape that it might become a blessing to all
mankind, a source of everlasting inspirat-
ion and joy for all those who have not
forgotten the laughter and simple
pleasures of childhood."
Then one day you will be equipped to
tackle the three "B's," Bach, Brahms and
Beethoven.
Local critics will find much to condemn. I
am neither musician or critic, just an old
fellow with a dumb -dog devotion to fine
music, and eager to share that love.
In urging you to explore. all I can say in
conclusion is that to live out your lives
untouched by the masters is akin to
walking down the road. eyes downcast and
unaware of the beauty of the heavens, to go
through life oblivious to the scent of roses,
to be colourblind to the subtle pastel tones
of a sunset.
Some of you have read a favourite book
twice or even three times. Have any of you
read it 10 let alone 20 times. Yet such is the
quality of fine music that like true love it
deepens with the years. It is ever fresh like
a May day. It flashes like the splendour of
autumn woods.
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