Music is great therapy

[Andiamo1]

I had  a tough time in adolescence.  I sometimes contemplated suicide and often took the drugs of the 60s.  When things got really tough, I  would lie on the floor and play Beethoven's Emperor concerto.  The notes of the slow movement soothed me and somehow gave me the strength to go another day.

Eventually I found a lovely wife and built a career.  Just when life looked great, HCV came along and brought me the gift of interferon.  I took off like a rocket through a time warp and ended up back on the floor depressed and wondering how I would make it through the day without killing someone or myself.

Beethoven once again came to my rescue.  Music is wonderful, it not only brings back great memories, it made me relive the memory as if it were today's experience.  Those soothing notes calmed me down and once again, I made it through with the help of music.
  
As the Doors said with their equally great music, "Break on through to the other side."

[Andiamo1]

Here is a link to a Chopin Nocturne played by the master, Artur Rubinstein.  One of the greatest pianist of all time.

[Andiamo1]

I agree with you.  He must have or he couldn't have written it once he was deaf.

If you want to start with Classical music, I recommend trying Mozart and Beethoven piano concertos or sonatas.  The are among the best and relatively easy to listen to.  If you are not at all familiar with the genre, then you might have to play them a few times before you start to get an understanding of what they are trying to say.

There are also many great Chopin sonatas. The main point is to start with something you can relate to.  I would avoid string quartets until you are more familiar with the genre.  

Just my opinion and taste, so feel free to disagree.

Here is a link to Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHd8jwXBzXE

[Susan_1a_CC]

Wow, beautiful piece of music, thanks for the link.  I've inherited a large collection of classical music.  I really don't know much about any of it.  What's a good place to start for someone who is heavily into the blues, and blues heavy rock?  Okay, sometimes I might put on an Enya CD.  My husband has an incredible stereo system and I've really learned to "hear" over the past number of years.  (I can't stand compressed digital downloads, ouch!)

Andiamo, I once heard something along the lines of this:  someone was remarking how sad it was that Walt Disney never got to see his dream.  The response was - if he hadn't seen it first than none of us would have ever seen it!  I believe that Beethoven heard every note before a single instrument was struck...

[eureka254]

Never saw that Bernstein clip, but funny that I almost echoed what he said!
Thanks for the links and smiles...wow, been a while since I've listened to his String Quartets...!
The expanse of his work is breathtaking in its diversity isn't it?  
And indeed, one of the great perks of the computer age is music at your fingertips... no more running around  hunting for that rare album or tape (although sometimes that was half the fun!).

IAmTheWalrus:  
"New World Symphony" is one of classic's masterpieces, agreed.

Susan/Annie:  
Is it your tomorrow yet?!?  Good luck! (See? Doppleganger allowed!)
I'll have to check into "Everything" -- love David Byrne but haven't seen/heard that.

A song to everyone for tonight (used to love to play this when I could play)...
Wishing everyone sweet dreams!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6hdDOFtW64

[Andiamo1]

The story is that he conducted the first performance of the 9th symphony without being able to hear it.  When it was over, he turned around to face the audience and saw them all standing and applauding.  That was when he first realized how much people loved it.

[Susan_1a_CC]

Can't you feel the music?  I sure know that I can.  David Byrne' "Everything that happens, happened today concert" resonated through every cell of my being and it was far beyond what entered my ears!

Susan, er Annie ;)