And the Beat Goes On

Music accompanies almost all activities of our lives. It is used to educate and to heal. It plays in the background while we shop at the grocery store, and alerts us to telephone calls and email messages. It adds extra dimension to the movies or television programs we watch, and riles fans at sporting events. It even shows up in the workplace when we are put on hold by those annoying automated voicemessaging systems or subconsciously find ourselves humming along with elevator Muzak!

Having a few years under my belt, I have had the advantage (or would some argue the disadvantage?) of exposure to the various types of music which have emerged and evolved over time. The first clue to my acquaintance with the variety of this medium is easily identified in the formats of the technology on which they are presented: vinyl, tape, compact disc and digital recordings. The amalgamation of hardware is as diversified as the music recorded on it. Perusal of my collection serves up everything from soup to nuts (Super Tramp’s Breakfast in America to the Squirrel Nut Zipper’s Hot) from A to Z (Abba to Frank Zappa) and a little bit of everything else in between (The Cars, Chicago, The Doors, The Fab Four, The Grass Roots, Macy Gray, Buddy Guy, Billie Holiday, Louis Jordan, The Manhattan Transfer, Glenn Miller, No Doubt, Louis Prima, Donna Summer, Taj Mahal, Technotronic, U2, The Village People and … yes, I’ll even admit it, show tunes!)  It therefore begs the question of why I am attracted to such a diversity of music and what draws me to it.

I recall reading that listening habits and record research indicate most people identify closely with the music they heard as adolescents and young adults. Simply put, my music collection is a reflection of my transition from childhood through adulthood. My personal identity—who I was, who I am, and even perhaps who I will become—is reflected in the music I choose to listen to. Though I don’t pretend to know what “Top 40” is these days (does that term still apply?), my taste has and will continue to evolve.  Yet what I find to be most interesting is how the same notes and chords, beats and rhythms, and sounds to which we sway, tap our toes and snap our fingers stand the test of time and continue to entertain, in some cases even centuries later.

We first heard the eclectic sound of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 2003 when we attended their Christmas show. The lights, the theatrics, the music … loved it then! Mark scored freebie tickets for their spring tour (we like free!), and we found ourselves in second row mezzanine seats for Beethoven’s Last Night. Classic literature, classical compositions and rock music blended into one amazing show. Fabulous storyline, great staging, powerful music. Once again TSO literally rocked.  Loved it again!  If you’ve never seen them perform, you need to do so.

As Mark so profoundly noted, “Beethoven would have approved!”