Discovering the many voices of music in our wo4ld is like delving into the spirit of discovery through the eyes of every author who has put pen to paper to express their thoughts and tell their stories.
I grew up with music in my home. My mother loved to listen to her favorite music station on the radio. Most of the time she would sing along, singing every single word by memory. It was from her that I gained a deep appreciation for music. She was my springboard to the music world. (She also gave me other worlds to explore, but those will be saved for another day and other writings.)
My introduction to music was through the Big Band Era--Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller and others. Bing Crosby was my mother's favorite singer, as well as Dean Martin and Perry Como. Mom loved the "crooners," (but she did not like Frank Sinatra!) In later years she grew to love Inglebert Humperdink and Alan Jackson--quite diverse for her.
In my teen years, I was introduced to Jazz via my brother, Darell. I loved the sound of it with all of its intricate variations and drifts from the melody line through major and minor keys. When he was on his Mission in Switzerland and Austria, he left his stereo at home, as well as all of his LP's. I played them over and over and was comforted by his music. It kept him close.
I took piano lessons for many years and loved to play the popular as well as classical pieces Mrs. Marshall would find for me. I still sit down and play those good old songs. There is a great surge of emotion flowing through from the brain to the fingertips as I play the songs of yesteryear!
As I grew older and music genres began changing, I drifted for a season into both Rock and Country music. An odd mix, I know, but I found in both, messages that spoke to my inner experience. And it is the inner experience that draws us to the music we learn to love. All over the world, that same inner experience makes both the performer and the listener draw closer to each other. From the Indian bells and stringed instruments, to the African drums and dances, to the sounds of the music in the Alps, to the tambourines of the energetic Spanish dancers or the strumming of their romantic guitars--music unites all of us.
New Age music brought a whole new experience into my life. I worked in the Music Department as a stenographer at the University of Illinois in the '60's and heard one of the very first synthesizers that was being developed by one of the students in his lab. I began to view the world through the eyes of the mystical or "out of the box" musician--sometimes extremely happy and energetic--sometimes dark and melancholy.
I have to confess, there is one genre of music I cannot wrap my arms around personally, and that is Rap. But, like all other expressions of music, it expresses a multitude of feelings experienced by its writer and it has its place in our music culture.
In my waning years, the music that touches that deep, inner space inside of me is the sacred music of the Gospel. Hilary Weeks, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Paul Cardell and others are a few of my favorites. I relax and feel closer to my Heavenly Father when I can play or sing a sacred hymn. Or I can be moved to tears when I hear a Patriotic tune.
I have a son who has given his life to music. And I respect his choices. I have watched his life's story unfold through his expressions in his music. I have witnessed first-hand the growth from little boy Rock Star to his endless variety of expressions on guitar, piano, clarinet, drums, ukulele, and his ultimate love, cello.
Billy was born with music inside of him and it was only a matter of time before it bubbled to the top to express itself. He is not selfish with his gift and has shared it with the world. He knows from whence it came and he shares it with love.
Many of my ancestors were musicians. The ones I remember were my Grandmother and Grandfather on my dad's side. Grandma played the guitar, mandolin and harmonica, while Grandpa played the fiddle and guitar. They played for many open-air dances in their younger years. Grandma's dad and grand-dad played in local bands.
I have other children who have been blessed with the gift of music. Some sing, some play musical instruments, and some just appreciate listening. That gift has also been passed on to some of my grand-children. Oh what a great gift it is.
From my pioneer heritage to my gifted children and grandchildren, music has been one of the common threads that bind us. It is the universal language that every soul on God's earth can understand. I picture the Heavenly choirs that will usher us home and music will be the final voice that will live through the eternities.
