An experience of an 8-year-old kid, 46 years later…
When I was an 8-year-old kid, my grandfather called and invited me to listen to his new record. It was a vinyl recording of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
I don’t remember which version was or what orchestra performed it, or which director was at the helm. All those details were meaningless for that 8-year-old version of me. I remember having been fooling around with my toys at the beginning of the record.
But as time went by, my grandmother told me later, I started to get interested in what I was listening to. I just have memories from the beginning of the fourth movement onwards. I just have memories of sensations, of getting chills in my spine, of having a strong emotional shock.
I had never listened to anything so emotional, beautiful, and moving as those minutes of musical beauty. And neither afterwards.
Since that afternoon, Beethoven’s music has been an important part of my life. And, occasionally, when I listen to The Ninth one more time, for an instant I’m again that 8-year-old kid, being transfixed by the experience. If you haven’t ever listened to classical music, but you think that you love music, then do yourselves a favour and listen to it.
At least the fourth movement.
I can promise that something will change inside your soul.