What is it about music that stirs within me
Emotions of such varying colours and profound depths?
From those so long off days sitting with Dad,
Listening to the records spinning on the turntable,
Watching the awe on his face at the sounds
Being produced from a needle on the surface,
Of this large, round piece of plastic.
The power of the sound reaching into his heart ;
And mine.
That day we went together to a class,
And the man said to me, “Singing is only another instrument”
Opening my closed mind to the wonder of the voice in music.
A new world of wonder was now mine to enjoy.
The operas of Verdi, the Masses of Haydn;
The joy that listening to a Bach Cantata, brings to my soul
So much beautiful music, hidden from me
Because of my prejudiced, stubborn view of the voice.
My idea that music died with Brahms was a sham
When a friend said, listen to this, and opened my world
To the Appalachian world of Copland.
My blinkered sight changed yet again!
The music of most composers have space on my shelves;
That Fast Ride with John Adam, so thrilling;
The sparse music of Glass transforms me
Into moments of pure ecstasy no words can explain.
Messiaen, I once despised, but The End of Time
Sent shivers through me, so very, very moving when
Remembering the context from where it was created.
The String Quartet, a genre listened to many times
Confused me! It was hard to come to terms in my mind
To this music played by four instruments
I then LISTENED, and again I was hooked
Mainly by Dmitri and Ludwig,
But yet again Phillip transformed me.
Music, it has been there all my life.
I know so much, but realise
The more I know,
The more ignorant I am
And then there’s All that Jazz!
For another time and written in Swing.
-
Author:
Goldfinch60 (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: April 24th, 2026 01:09
- Comment from author about the poem: Music is my life.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 13
- Users favorite of this poem: Cheeky Missy, birdbird
Offline)
Comments5
An essay in music appreciation; for the quality and depth I salute you Andy.
Awaiting your jazz exposition with anticipation...
So kind Dave and very much appreciated.
There is a poem on here of mine called "And All That Jazz" on 15/11/25 whcih tells of my jazz exposition.
Andy
A fine write Gold. Yes, as I say, I have all Stockhausen's music so you need not listen to a note of it! Pity that's a fly in the ointment. Music was there - then he came along and ruined it?
Thanks Orchi.
https://youtu.be/8hCplUD8nFU?si=OIbPqC1HuA-K0nmS
Don't forget the blues, Bossa nova, and on and on enough material for several poems here. Nicely and most tastefully presented this poem of classical music education stemming from a past growing in knowledge. Very nice Andy
Thank you soren. I listen to all types of music and have done all my life but classical and jazz are at the top of the pile.
Andy
Most welcome Andy
What hip hop song inspired you to write this poem
There is a theory that Hip Hop is a modern form of opera. Thank you for your comment Demar.
Andy
I love this poem so much. I literally have never listened to or known any of those musicians. But I understand the life behind music being the being that lives to make your life have being.
All my poetry is inspired by music.
Not directly.
But by the fact that I havent read other poetry before. and I don't read books.
So ALL of my inspiration is music.
And I can guarantee my taste is soooo different to yours. Which means that even if your poetry is inspired by music, and someone else's is too, and mine is. Theyre all different. Bcs everybody has a different music taste.
Love the poem.
Just posted a decently long one like 5 minutes ago. And an entire short story.
I suggest trying out stuff like collab poems or short stories. It put me soooo out of my comfort zone. And it was sooo fun too.
Have a good one!
I listen to many types of music blackbird and have done for all my life and I say to people there are only two types of music, the music you like and the music you don't like. Thank you for your comment.
Andy
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