05.30.09
9th Letter to a Future Daughter
(Joy and Music)
Dearest Sofia, leitmotif of my imagined motherhood,
Unearthing lullabies the other day spurred this letter and for the umpteenth time, I tried to postpone another one of these whimsical missives to the future. But is my heart really incapable of further flights of fancy through long disuse of dreaming? I reckon not. So here I am - again. Again I think of you, not without a hopeful sigh, not without a smile, and not without a ripple in my heart.
First, let us return to the lullabies, the music. I am not in the highest of spirits at this moment, but oddly, I wish to speak to you of music and Joy. At last, at my tenth letter, I mention music. The reason for suspending the topic is to allay concerns that music might be imposed on you. I will do no such thing, but rather introduce you to the benefits of having music in your life. As you shall observe later on, I am appended to a number of interests, and yet no matter how mediocre my music skills are, I prefer being called a musician instead of other titles. Being a musician is not about playing an instrument virtuosically, it is about incorporating music in your life to enhance your being. When music is inculcated in your heart, you shall find out that you can do almost everything musically; write musically, laugh musically, listen musically, paint musically, think musically, and also love musically. Even emotions become naturally musical…
like pain, in A minor. Take note my dear, no one can force music on anybody, but I pray you’ll find it. I will help you find it. So too, with Joy. However, many confuse Joy with happiness. The difference is that one can be happy while crying internal tears, but one may have Joy despite external tears.
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It is only as I write that I apprehend why Joy and music appeared together through the corner of my mind like two cheerful friends holding hands: Both never cease to comfort me. It is my hope, that you shall always find solace in these selfsame things.
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P.S. The Chinese have the same character for joy and music. Isn’t that amazing?
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To read all Letters to a Future Daughter, Click Here.
sopraninigabi said,
May 30, 2009 at 7:28 am
For me, pain is encapsulated in Chopin’s Nocturne in C# minor (the posthumous one).
I have read many descriptions of what it is to be a musician. Yours is the simplest and at the same time, the truest :)
I can’t wait to meet Sofia in the future :)
Miracle ♪♫ said,
May 30, 2009 at 10:10 am
That’s really a forlorn piece, Gabi… for me, it has a different quality of pain. Unlike Rachmaninoff’s aching melodies that squeeze one’s heart out of one’s chest and makes a person “die” that instant, Chopin’s is a sort of supressed pain that’s almost like a slow death. The A minor opuses that are painful for me cannot even be labeled as sad… but they had, and still have, a way of weaving into dismal experiences in my life.
Thank you, Gabi. That, coming from you, is strengthening.
Ah, if Sofia decides to take up singing in the future, I’m already favouring a certain teacher for her above all the rest. ;-)
mika said,
May 30, 2009 at 10:33 am
hmm, i think the most painful music is often the sweetest music, just like, as mentioned, in Chopin’s and Rachmaninov’s music. i can’t help but also recall Brahms’ music, especially his intermezzos! waah
“When music is inculcated in your heart, you shall find out that you can do almost everything musically; write musically, laugh musically, listen musically, paint musically, think musically, and also love musically…”
beautifully put!!! i will inscribe this in my mind! :)
TóTómel said,
May 30, 2009 at 10:54 am
this is beautiful Mir. :)
Miracle ♪♫ said,
May 30, 2009 at 11:12 am
To Mika: Waaahhh… Brahms! His is a profound sadness.
“Thinking musically” may be influenced by you, Mika. You’re someone who does just that. =)
¤ ¤ ¤
To Totomel:
Thank you for thinking so, Mel.
Dili ra kaau ko obvious nga gi sapot noh? hehehe…
mika said,
May 30, 2009 at 12:52 pm
thanks, Miracle! that’s a big compliment. :)
elaine said,
May 30, 2009 at 3:15 pm
awww… this is really inspiring. specially now that i live in a situation where people around me measure success in terms of how much money one can make. you are right, the character for music and happiness are alike, though they are pronounced differently.
‘Being a musician is not about playing an instrument virtuosically, it is about incorporating music in your life to enhance your being.’
how true. i also agree on what mika quoted from you. i will keep them in my heart. thanks.
Miracle ♪♫ said,
May 30, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Elaine, do teach me the pronunciation for both words when we see each other. =)
You are all very encouraging. Sofia will be so lucky to have such Titos and Titas. ;-)
jonathan hawk follows closely said,
May 30, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I remember my youth, and imagining the child I’d someday raise, eventually adopting, the path took a number of turns and one child became two. Still, the imaginary writings to a future child is such a wonderful gift.
In my case, it would have also documented how an artist put down his brushes for a long time to help the youth find their own means of expression, and how later in life, the passion again ignites in a new way, but how the flame of creativity, by any name, is always there. A flame you will one day use to light your child’s path(s).
Miracle ♪♫ said,
May 30, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Things seldom turn out the way we expect them to, and I should be ready for twists of events… but whatever they may be, I hope they will still include a beloved child and loving parents. You have proved to be a wonderful parent, Jonathan. People have different paths… but I guess the important thing is that we walk our path, and walk it in the best way possible. =)