December 6, 2010

Musica Aeterna

My, what a mixed reaction my last post received.  Some loved it, saying it was inspirational and moved them to take action.  Others told me it was a little too preachy and I should keep my opinions to myself.  It's OK.  I can take it.  I'm not striving to please anyone except myself, but let's see if we can find some middle ground with this post.


I've recently been introduced to the wonderful world of movie soundtracks.  Yes, I knew they existed before and even owned a few, but unless the music in a movie really stood out, I never paid a lot of attention.  Now I do, thanks to a wonderfully geeky discophile in my life.  He's introduced me to music I likely never would have had the opportunity to hear (Perfume - The Story of a Murderer), and has given me music I fell in love with immediately (District 9).  Music has always played an important role in my life, but thanks to him, my horizons have been vastly expanded, and I now hear and feel the music playing in the background of every movie I watch. I notice how it affects the scene, and I understand how it can change the mood.

But after movies have ended, I'm now finding that I want to own many of the soundtracks.  Yes, some of them conjure up images of the movies I enjoyed, but most simply provide outstanding music that works as the soundtrack for my life.  Some songs are perfect for reading, others for writing, some for cleaning house, some for taking photos, and some lull me to sleep when my mind is racing and can't settle at the end of a long day.  There seems to be a soundtrack for every scenario.

Perhaps the best is that lately, I find myself simply sitting with my eyes closed, letting the music flow, conjuring new images and emotions.  It relaxes me, takes my imagination to new places, and allows me to be a little more creative.  There are also times it brings up memories of people from a forgotten or not so forgotten past, and I'm transported to a time that can't be recaptured, but can always be remembered.  The ultimate though, is when I simply drift off, unaware I'm doing so until the music ends and I awaken to silence. 

If you don't pay attention to the music in movies or even some television shows, I encourage you to listen.  And if you really enjoy what you hear, take steps to own some of it.  Let a little instrumental loveliness flow into your life and be the soundtrack for some of your day-to-day activities.  Appreciate what the composers and musicians have created. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to turn off the soundtrack to Pirates of the Caribbean and play a little music from Frost/Nixon.

5 comments:

  1. I love soundtracks too! not such a fan of musicals for some reason.

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  2. Big fan of soundtracks, and I'm with Trish, not so much with the musicals. I have a massive collection. Since I was a kid I've noticed the way music affects a movie. The right soundtrack can make or break it. Glad your discophile turned you on to our world!

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  3. I know exactly what you mean. But, as with the others, I am not such a fan of musicals.

    Hans Zimmer is a god to me. I've got his Pirates of the Caribbean, Batman Begins, Dark Knight, the Pacific, Inception (uh, loved, LOVED that soundtrack), King Arthur and Sherlock Holmes soundtracks on my iPod.

    I find it just gives writing a good feel, and it can help get you motivated and immersed, especially when concentration is evading you.

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  4. I'm a graphic designer and (sometime) fine artist, and I love listening to film scores while I'm working! My first soundtrack album was "Star Wars" and I was hooked. John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Hans Zimmer, Thomas Newman, the list goes on and on. Of all the music I have in my collection, soundtracks by far outnumber any other category. GEEK! (I have a few musicals that I kinda like. But I don't, y'know, brag about that too much. lol!)

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  5. Nindogs, I know what you mean about writing while listening to soundtracks. With the right one, I lose all sense of time and surroundings, and become completely immersed in what I’m writing.

    Sullydasarock, my discophile is awesome! I’m glad he turned me on to your world too.

    Steven64, there’s nothing wrong with having a few musicals in the collection. It just proves you’re a well rounded geek. ;-)

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