Musical Associations X3

By Rhiannonw

Tue, 04 Jun 2019
  • 1189 reads
6 comments
 

mother-in-law:
She’s nearly 100,
but remembers a tune
her mother used to play and sing
– can try to sing to me now
– ‘De-dum, dum-dum …’
but can’t give true voice
to what is there within her head –
caught vision, caught music,
but name or words have also flown.

husband:
When young he loved Le tombeau de Couperin by Ravel –
and for unknown reasons
it became linked in his mind with reading
of Black Bob running across the countryside.*

grown-up son:
Dvorak’s Slavonic dances, and New World Symphony
always associated with
car journeys to Dorset.
Tchaikovski’s Pathetique brings back
Saturday morning walks from Music centre
to Three Bridges station,
and Tchaikovski’s Russian Dance from Swan Lake
has always had strong association with
Tufty of Road Safety campaign stories!**

* the Adventures of Black Bob, the collie, popular children’s stories mid 20thC. His parents played a lot of Classical music, radio or record.
** his love of classical music and its help to him triggered us into playing much, but also his mind was full of it, and still is.

[IP: Which piece of music anchors you to a special event?] – I couldn't think of a personal piece in this respect, so decided to quiz family!

 

 

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Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

the memories that return when hearing a beautiful piece of music are so precious. Being able to recall where you were, who was with you at the time is so much easier when that all time favourite is played once again.

I bet your mother-in-law smiles when she recalls a favourite piece of music.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Yes, Jenny, even when frustrated that she can't get the notes out right that she can 'hear' in her head. Thank you. I suppose it is like scents trigger recall to some people strongly. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Our ability to retain complex pieces of music in our memories is incredible really. It must be very soothing for your mother in law to be able to play music inside her head. Interesting the associations you have with classical pieces gathered over time, for many of us we only hear classical music when it's filtered through something modern.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Yes, thank you, Jane. I think it is something relaxing to her, only partly frustrated at not being able to sing it out properly now, but she does sometimes start singing a hymn she knows from the past and I know that she's getting some of the tune right!

David, my son has a tremendous memory and full of associtations too – classical music was a tremendous help to the intesity and overloading of him mind when young, with his struggles with Aspergher's. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I like how you have gathered all these thoughts about music, like catching a handful of falling leaves, all these sounds in minds of those you know so well, you can't see them, but they are there like a kind of architecture of memory. I wonder if you can tell something about someone's character from the music they keep in mind? All the ones you mention here are so beautiful

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Di. Your comments are always so thought-provoking too! Rhiannon