being

Good morning to all present.

Today, I will be talking to you on the wonders of music.

Beethoven, Mozart and Litz. They are great men of the 20th century who has touched the lives of many through their works and their prodigious skills. Did they create the first filament light bulb? Or invent the first aircraft?

No. They did not. But what they did, has had a resounding effect throughout the ages of Man. Even though the great composers of the past have died, their music lives on. And has manifested in different forms. Their works has provided a sense of comfort and refuge for the people living through the ages. If one were to listen closely when placed in places with pain and suffering, it would be quite easy to note the strains of music traveling through the spaces and displacing misery with a sense of hope, sadness with a tinge of joy. This can be captured succinctly with the quote that Percy Bysse Shelly made, which is “Our sweetest songs tell of the saddest tales”.

I come from a choir that has achieved much in the musical arena. But ultimately, if you were to look at why the choir has so much fun despite the long hours spent in training, you would notice that we do not really care about the time spent training. Because the love of music and the bonding we have makes us inseparable. They say singing is the voice of angels. And I think, if you were to hear a choir perform, you would surely agree with them. The simple harmonies and crests of crescendos crashing upon one’s being, creates a sense of uplifting and the joy that fills up your entire body, making you feel as though you are floating with the music itself. And surely that has nothing to do with the effects of morphine or any dope for that matter.

Music binds Mankind. Be it from the Wayang Kuilits in Indonesia, Gamelan (Pronounced Gam-May-lan) of India, Operas of the Chinese and Western kind, every great civilization has had their own brand and kind of music. This shows us of the great influence that Music has had. Regardless of the different cultures or religious backgrounds. And this even more so in the modern context where differences between Man is being accentuated and emphasized.

Albert Einstein once said. If I were not a physicist, I would be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. And when that comes from one of the greatest Man of Science, I think there can be no greater affirmation of the beauty of Music.

Thank You.

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