The first concert I went to was on Wednesday (August 20, 2014) It was the first rock concert I have ever been to. I've listened to rock music for pretty much my whole life. I distinctly remember listening to Dire Straits with my dad when I was very little. Brothers In Arms is most likely the first full album I ever heard. But I had not, in my memory, ever been to an actual rock show. So when Hawthorne Heights posted on their Facebook page that they were coming through LA for their ten year anniversary tour, I bought a ticket! I was a little nervous about going. First off, even though I have followed Hawthorne for most of their career, I'd heard crazy things about rock shows and what goes on there, even if none of the CDs have parental advisory warnings on them. And I guess some of it was evident- there were people drinking, and somebody was smoking pot outside the venue. But no one asked me to do either, and I would have politely turned them down anyway. That wasn't a problem. Of the saying, "sex, drugs, and rock n' roll" there was none of the explicit first at the concert. And as for rock n' roll, that's why I was there in the first place. I like new school pop-punk. There is nothing wrong with songs about missing your girl in Ohio. The guys in Hawthorne Heights lost one of their band members early on in their career, so they always dedicate a song "Four Become One" to Casey. How amazing and dedicated is it to remember a friend, and be able to honor him every concert, almost a decade after his death?
The second concert was today, Sunday, August 24. It was a violin recital by a young Finnish violinist who graduated from BYU. It was held in a local Latter-day Saint chapel. The recital consisted of pieces by J. S. Bach, John Sibelius, LDS hymns, and Finnish folk songs. Like I said about rock, I have loved Classical music all my life. On my sixth birthday, my step-dad bought me two cassette tapes of Classical music. I listened to them until the tape spool broke. I now have one of those albums on CD. It is still one of my favorites. Back to the concert. Bach is one of my favorite composers! I've heard people say that his music is too mathematical. If that is true, then I will have to eat my words from my years of schooling, and say, "I like math." At least in Baroque music. The violinist played "Finlandia" by Sibelius combined with the hymn "Be Still My Soul." In fact the tune for the hymn is taken from that piece. It is a very beautiful song either with or without the Christian words. The calming spirit is in Classical music.
Going to these two musical events solidified my belief that all music has some value. I have always had some trouble, maybe in a prideful way, with those who only listen to one kind of music. I feel like they are missing out. I can understand not liking everything. I don't. I can freely admit I have a hard time with rap and much of the modern pop/urban scene. It doesn't appeal to me on a musical, emotional, or even spiritual level. So if someone doesn't like Classical, punk, country, or some other genre that I find great value and enjoyment in, that's fine. However, I find that it there is value in expanding horizons musically. I cannot listen to one genre of music for more than a few days without having a desire to listen to something else. When someone once told me that it was "cool" to like one kind of music and stick with it, I tried it. . . for two whole days. Forget being cool, I HAD to hear a country song after that. No matter how much I liked what I had picked out as my "cool" music, I needed that variety in my life. Another high school example, someone asked me if I listened to "rock or rap." I was flabbergasted. Not wanting an argument I said "rock" but there was, and is, so much more out there! Go and find it! You will be surprised by what you find- and what touches your deepest soul.
Finlandia- John Sibelius
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