The joy of classical music

We are going to interpret the first eight notes of a symphony. The most famous symphony of all, I would say.

¿Have you got the script? The score is in page one. The lyrics are in page two.

At three, we begin.

Dah dah dah DAH

Sorry, sorry, I will give you a hint

Cesar’s phone sounds.

Ok, everybody

Dah dah dah DAH

Well done!

You guessed right this is the first movement of Beethoven’s fifth, the most famous symphony in the world ¿Who doesn’t know it? These four strokes Dah dah dah DAH is “the way destiny knocks on the door” said the musician. You cannot escape destiny, can you?

Imagine we are facing a beautiful Orchestra like the London Symphony, which played in Valencia last Sunday. What do we see?

We see the families of instruments, each with its distinctive sound. We have the strings in front: violins at left, violas at centre, cellos and double-basses at right. The difference between them is the size and the length of the strings and fingerboard. The longer the strings, the lower is the pitch of sound. As the 1st violin can be easily accommodated under the chin, the double bass musician struggles to put his arms around the outsized instrument.

The low pitch instruments provide a background sound for the high pitch instruments. Behind the strings there are the woodwinds (oboe, clarinet, flute and bassoon) and the brass (trumpet, trombone and tuba).

And on top of it all there is the percussion (timpani, triangle, gong).

This is a baton, the simplest of musical instruments. It doesn’t make any noise by itself, but can draw wonderful sounds from an orchestra. It’s used by the conductor to indicate rhythm or expression.

Last Sunday in Valencia we were able to see one orchesta at its fullest. The London Symphoy, 125 musicians, all kind of percussion. What do they interpret?

I was, composed when the musician was in love with Harriet Smithson, an Irish actress. Passion inspires fully the work of art.

It’s truly fabulous. It is one of the great symphonies of all time.

It consists of 5 movements:

1.  Daydreams, passions

2.  The Ball (a waltz)

3.  Scene in the countryside (a quiet day, with a storm at the end)

4.  March to the scaffold, incredibly powerful, with the music of the Gregorian chant “dies ire”.

5.  Witches’ Sabbath (expressive instrumentation, bells sounding, apocalyptic conclusion)

Musical education does take years. You have to learn the musical notation system first (an universal language) and then master your chosen instrument.

But it is not necessary to go through this long and winding process to enjoy classical music. The only thing you need is some power of concentration.

I begin my concentration. To me is like a train departing from the station. I have to catch that train. I begin to run alongside the train trying to grab the handles of the nearest wagon. After running for quite a bit, I finally catch the train. My concentration is now total. Instead of following the music, the music carries me in her lap. I abandon myself and enter into a state of “flow”.

Let’s try once again the Beethoven 5th symphony

At the count of three

Dah dah dah DAH

Well done!