If we speak from our soul

If we speak from our soul, we can arrest people, amuse them, thrill them or even anger them in no time. Then why are we scared to bare our feelings, to speak what's on our mind? We can speak straight, yet speak kindly.

These thoughts gather me when I listen to Francesco Manfredini's 'Sinfonia in e minor'. The first two minutes of this music arrest me. That's all it takes for this composer to meet my soul.

His music speaks of a certain pathos that is identifiable even after some 300 years. Don't I always say, classical music connects to the soul?

What is this 'cello'?

Cello is when you are deep and thoughtful despite people around you laughing.

Cello is when you are hopeful and courageous despite people around you sulking.

Other than that, cello is an instrument. It's bigger than the violin and the viola and heavier. In other posts we will talk about differences among the three.

So how does the cello fit in with the other string fellows (violin and viola)? That's what we are going to see today. This video is perfect for it.

It's a cello concerto which means the cello takes centre stage while other instruments sing around it.

Your soul is classical

You listen to a tune and immediately connect with it. Why? That's your soul speaking, and it is suppressed.

Ever wondered why you don't like certain music? Is it a matter of taste? Or is it that you don't like it because you are made to not like it.

Music is overplayed now. There is too much music, constant music.

Music is not the ultimate relaxation. It is used these days to hide your real self. To ride over your soul. So you don't listen to your soul.

Music on radio, TV is bombardment on the senses. I would say you are made to like music through constant repetition; you get used to a certain rhythm, and then you want to listen to everything in that or closely related rhythm.


Someday, you may like the music you hate today because your senses are free from this bombardment.

A melody in a storm

Imagine a storm. Dark clouds and dark winds gathering over the horizon. Screams and turmoil everywhere. Still, you have time for a melody. You take your partner's hand and run. Romance. Heroism in hope.

In such a stark situation, hope is the melody.
Imagine all these elements - storm, dismay, winds, terror and hope and faith in a four minute musical piece.

Such is the power of Johann Adolf Hasse's first movement of sinfonia in g minor.

Those who know about musical theory would find this an example of 'counterpoint'.

But you can know the same through listening and imagination.

The Miraculous Zelenka

The music in this post is about three hundred years old.
It is played and admired even today.

The music is haunting- fast, catchy, powerful.
Even though it's a 'miserere'; Miserere is a prayer for mercy.

Recall that you hear the 'bass type' sounds in metal and rock music.
Those sounds are not inventions. They have existed, always, in classical music. Here's a YouTube review about the 'metal-classical' music in this post.

"This is almost like Baroque Heavy Metal, with those chugging Basso Continuo, and virtually the Violas are ripping 16ths throughout the whole piece."