Classical Music - Essay Example

ical Music Order no. 240299 No. of pages: 2 Premium 6530 Music is both simple and complex and has a language of its own – it does not need a particular language in order for it to be understood. This is more evident in the genre of Classical music where the ear of the listener has to be trained to listen to it or else it would be extremely difficult to follow its complex nuances. Music cannot be called a cultural or an ideological art as it has its own complexities that are embedded in its culture.

Classical music is definitely not music for the masses – it is for a special niche of people who understand it and are affected by it. In fact, I would say that Classical music is music for the soul and deeply affects the listener who understands its language. Some of the greatest composers of all time like Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven have engraved their names forever in the sands of musical time and carry on to live on forever in the hearts and minds of classical music enthusiasts even centuries later.

I had the good fortune of getting to listen over the radio to one of the most prestigious Classical concerts which featured Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Symphony No. 41 in C major (K.551) otherwise nicknamed the “Jupiter Symphony.” The very first feeling that engulfed me when the piece was played was one of elation and awe. It was awe from two angles – one of that of the composer himself and the second from his creation. There were many things that came to my mind as I listened in rapt attention in a pin-drop silent hall, but the thing that really hit me was that the music touched my heart and soul and I was lost in Mozart’s world.

I became aware that listening to other forms of music such as Pop, Rap, R&B, Rock, Folk or Country was quite a different scene altogether. Though I do enjoy some of these forms of music, the music that embraced my soul was definitely the Classical. An article written by Sir George Grove in 1906 on the Jupiter Symphony stated this, “It is the greatest orchestral work of the world which preceded the French Revolution." (Sir George Grove, 1906) Music that is instrumental with no language barrier such as the Western classical or the Indian Raagas is often said to convey much deeper feelings, emotions, thoughts and ideas, and even values and these are the things I felt when listening to this evergreen classical piece.

The piece was complete in itself comprising four movements that were traditionally arranged in the Classical symphonic form that included – Allegro vivace, Andante cantabile, Menuetto Allegretto – Trio, and the Molto allegro. The music that emanated around me made me realize the virtuoso of the great Mozart and also realize that he was indeed one of the greatest composers of all time. Listening to such a high standard of classical music initiated me to do some soul–searching and realize that there are lots to learn and appreciate in the classical genre than in any other genre of music.