My father had a lot of classical music on cassettes and my older brother had just learnt about the fun of recording over them. He would take me with him, maybe to reduce his charges against the progressive values of The Enlightenment. He would put in a cassette and push the red record bottom; we sang and laughed.
By the age of 5 I was already adept in ruining the cassettes by myself. That same year I remember an evening when I decided to go on mission alone. I have no childhood memory more vivid than that night. I picked this cassette with a green and white sticker on it and put it in the player. I hit the play before pressing the record bottom, but it was too late; the music Ba Ba Ba Bammm had already filled the room and I could never press the record again: It was Ludwig van Beethoven’s symphony no. 5.
The first movement of the symphony was so intoxicating, and still is. I listened to it time after time that night and thousands of times since. I never felt a belonging to land, country, family and culture; but to Beethoven belonged by spirit, my roots, as if I am the embodiment of his 5th: Every note makes perfect sense.
In music I have a taste and patience only for The Three Bs: Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Johannes Brahms. Bach for the mathematical beauty of its melodies, Beethoven and Brahms for the harmonic complexity of their symphonies. But Beethoven has the place of the supreme Lord in this musical trinity, for in the face of his majesty one can rise above to heavens and shed tears of joy. If I can never say anything that speaks my soul I can say that Beethoven’s 5th speaks it fully and perfectly. It was not much of a surprise to find out later that Beethoven and I were both born on December 17.
Of course, I was also fortunate to have listened to the best recording in my first encounter; it was conducted by Herbert von Karajan, the infamous conductor of Berlin Philharmonic. After all, only a German can understand and properly capture the spirit of another German, especially when it comes to Beethoven, the highest expression of the Romantic era. Karajan resurrects Beethoven through his charismatic presence in front of the orchestra. In his breathtaking performances Karajan dies so that Beethoven lives.
Beethoven’s symphony no. 5 is also known as “Fate knocks at the door.”
NOEMAYA 
Ah music, lovely stuff. My father loved that classical trinity too, and Beethoven was also his favorite. Bach is mine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are amazing. I too love Bach.
LikeLiked by 1 person
dear, music is the easiest way to be the unicity /one with absolute.sound is what first came out of nothingness or sound pre-exists all. in Indian culture even demons/demonised characters were also enlightened but through music.Gods get pleased through music and grant boons.
you are compassionate with us may have some reason in your love of music.sound has no boundary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Music is the primordial revelation
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved this symphony, have listened to some of Mozart symphonies in the past. Truly, they transcend you to a different plane of existence.
Tomaj, I would like to suggest you to try listening to some bits of Indian classical music. All Indian classical music, be it Hindustani from northern India or Carnatic music from southern India, are all raga based. They would be a bit heavy to listen to initially and off putting, but once you have started liking them, there is no stopping.Each raga is unique and evokes a different kind of mood and emotion.
It is said the vedas chant are based on just 3 notes are based on the raga Ahir Bhairav.Most of the sanskrit slokas are based on this raga too.
Hope you like them 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks RamG for recommending it. Is there any particular yourube music/video clips you can point me to. I am eager to listen to these. Thanks a lot
LikeLike
There are two links on Ahir Bhairavi that I would like to share in particular. They are appealing and sound pleasing to the ears and my personal favourites:
The first one is a ad, the music based on this raga and whose verses are based on the Shanti mantra:
The second one is a meditation music rendered on flute, but to me it more felt like a rendition of the raga.
Here is an additional link, this one has a more native, conventional touch, but I felt did justice to the raga nevertheless:
Hope you like them 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing such a deep passion and experience with us! You are truly a renaissance man. I had a similar experience with Vivaldi.
LikeLiked by 1 person