When you hear music that speaks to you and transports you to a time in your life that long since passed, you are listening to something incredibly special. Last night, the North Carolina Symphony performed Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition." It's a piece of music that has left an indelible mark on me. Occasionally, a few of the pieces of the classical music era transcend all boundaries. Studies have proven that classical music can reduce stress, boost overall mental wellbeing, and even improve physical performance. For me the beauty of classical music lies in the delicate balance between melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, and tempo -- all of which are SORELY missing in contemporary "worship" music. All of these elements work together to create an emotionally resonant experience. I was reminded last night, even by the title of the finale of the movement -- The Great Gate of Kiev -- that composers are like painters, using different musical instruments to create a palette of sounds. Classical music uses the FULL spectrum of orchestral colors, from heavy brass to the soft tones of the woodwinds. This encapsulates the emotion I felt that day when Becky breathed her last on this earth and passed through "gates of splendor." This element of Mussorgsky's work moves me to tears whenever I hear it. Oh, the wonder of marriage, the gift of life and love -- all this is magnified by this work of divine art.
It is NEVER wrong to enjoy this music - at any time, never.
This is truly one the greatest orchestral pieces, ever.
