Music and Words

Ever since my childhood I have been surrounded by music. I remember the times when listening to popular/ film music was sort of frowned upon as it would destroy/ corrupt our taste in the classics. I was the only person in the house who would listen to a popular/ film music- of course always on the sly. I remember my dad and uncle selecting music with lots of care before playing.... music to suit the time of day... Indian classical musical also has predefined time of performance

Once I started school, catholic and missionary music started to influence me, as I learnt hymns, psalms, I also learnt popular western music. I had to bring this music home. My mother taught me to share so I shared with my elder sibling. Soon he became my partner in crime and we we collude to listen to western popular music on the youth channel on state radio (Yuva Vani) under the pretext of waiting to listen to the weekly inter school quiz contest that was so popular in 70s – Bournvita Quiz Contest (Today this programme runs on telly)

By age 10 my parents decided that as I had an interest in music, I should learn. So I started training in Indian Classical music. Boy! Was it tough!!!! I lived under this preconceived notion that as I could carry a note – I must be a darn good singer!!!! How the mighty fall!!!! I soon learnt that it was not as easy as it seems. One had to practice and practice and practice and practice – hours after hours, days after day in order to provide some modicum of flexibility and modulation to ones voice. I HATED SCALES!!!! Here I was practicing scales (not to mention how horribly by elder brother imitated me to all and sundry) , while my neighbour and classmate was singing songs- SONGS that had words and were sung by everyone but me!!!! Would my tutor give me songs… oh no!!! My voice wasn’t ready!!!! What did he know!!!! What did I know?!!!???

Today, I wish, I had practiced scales (irrespective of my snooty neighbour and pest of a brother) then I wouldn’t have had to live with the greatest regret of my life of not being able to sing!!!
However, the positive thing that happened was I was able to expand my horizon in terms of my taste in music. Once again it the same sibling of mine- pest of an elder brother, who helped take my love for music to another dimension. Thanks to him I learnt to enjoy legendary rock bands like Queen, Deep purple, Scorpion, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, I enjoyed Jazz sung by Cosby, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin (love him) Old blue eyes- Sinatra, Englebert. It wasn’t long before I discovered the magic of western classical music. So other then rap (can’t understand a word and when I do the profanities hurt my sensibility) I can say my taste is varied and listen to all kinds of music- rock, pop, jazz, classical, semi classical, sufi, folk.

Music is an extension of my self. It has an amazing influence on my life and psyche. If I am at work and need to concentrate on something. If I feel low, happy it all culminates in music. I love falling asleep to the strains of music.

The bard wasn’t very wrong when he said, “when music be the food of love, play on”, however I wish he had said food of life instead