I recently went to an ACMA music recital a few weeks back on my own. It was a nice experience to get to see some familiar faces and strike up conversations with former musical partners. It was my first time attending an in person social event in a long while, but I’m trying to get back in the swing of things these days.
The performances at the recital were wide ranging. There was Chopin. There was Rachmaninoff. There was opera singing. There was a whole gamut of musical arts. One song that stood out in my mind was Nuvole Bianche, by Ludovico Einaudi. It was played elegantly by this elderly woman at the concert.
Nuvole Bianche stands for “white clouds”. And the song expresses this feeling in layers. It has a simple yet wistful melody. And the song has a flowing pace to it, allowing the listener to be whisked away to a faraway place of adventure and peace and joy. The song made me reminisce of good times and helped me reflect on the beauty that is my life as a whole.
These types of simple songs really move me, and I am grateful to have discovered this new artist that I now listen on YouTube every once in a while. I guess you never know what you’ll expect when you go to these social events. But it’s safe to say that my investment paid off by gaining more knowledge and experiencing a new artist.
Music has a way to heal. To transcend. To connect. To empower. To reminisce. It is called an art form for a reason, and I am thankful to be able to simply be a willing participant in the movement.
I play the piano, and still do. Although, I would practice much more frequently back when I was a child. Back then, it was all about being technically accurate. About hitting the right notes. Emitting the correct sounds. Moving from one part to the other with accurate precision.
As I got older, I changed piano teachers. And my new teacher made it a case make sure that I am expressing my emotions properly thru each musical piece. He would wave his arms in a grand gesture every time he wanted me to play with more force or emotion. He would hesitantly lower his expression if he wanted me to play with greater delicacy and intonation.
Through my gradual development, I learned how to emote thru music and how to express my feelings through sound. It’s a beautiful feeling, and I’m glad that I am still staying active in this pursuit and supporting music as a whole across the NYC community.
I hope that someday I can get back into musical performance and perform at one of the ACMA recitals down the road. I still have a few songs that I haven’t gotten to play in an official setting. So, I’ll see what I can do. But, for now, it’s all about enjoying the arts. And musical expression definitely falls into that category.
I’m actually listening to Nuvole Biance right now on YouTube. It’s a nice background track to listen to when you’re looking to get into a written state of flow. To write posts or essays or books or what not. Music has the ability to calm and to help you focus on the task at hand.
There are other pieces of music that move me and speak to me as well. I love playing Melodies of Life, by Nobuo Uematsu. It’s a classic from the Final Fantasy pantheon of video games. It’s a little bit nerdy now that I think about it, but the song has a way to similarly whisking you away to a far-off place of nostalgia and beauty. Its bittersweet feel provides a snapshot of the ups and downs that life has to offer in all its glory. It’s hard to describe the words. Sometimes, you just need to feel and listen to the rhythm and movement to get a sense of what is being described.
Honestly though, not every song will speak to my inner self. I don’t identify with every single musical category that is out there. Some hit home more than others. But that’s life. Everyone is different and has their own relative tastes. Whom are we to judge what you like or dislike?
But I’m overall very thankful for music. And going forward, I hope to continue learning as a student of the arts. To learn how to better express my feelings and personality thru the piano. To learn what each composer is trying to convey at the time he or she writes a new piece. To gain a sense of gratitude and appreciation towards the creative expression that is human nature.
Music can be a joy ride. It is a delight to behold. It can help bring forth peace and alleviate suffering. So, what type of music speaks to your heart? Is it classical? Jazz? Hip hop? Country? Rock? The list goes on and on and on. But they’re all okay. Whatever floats your boat. Go for that and enjoy the ride.