the joy of music

The 20th century was the first in which music became something one could have in one's home without anyone in said home having to own and be proficient on some instrument. One could hear one's favorite music at will -- first on phonographs which evolved into gramophones, then record players...followed by cassette tapes, (1962), CDs (1982) and digital MP3s (1995). Prior to the phonograph, without instruments in the home, music was by necessity always "live" and accessed almost exclusively in group activities: for example, at a community dance or private party, a concert, a church or in a pub.

I started thinking about this after a character from 1837 in a time travel novel I was reading was both shocked and thrilled to be able to listen to Bach whenever he wished with a simple request to Alexa.

It seems such a small thing, listening to one's favorite composer, band or musical artist...like so many big little things we take for granted on a daily basis: clean running water, indoor plumbing, a fridge, a stove, electricity, garbage collection, books...

What struck me when reading about 1837's reaction was that I cannot imagine a life without music in the background. My life has a soundtrack. There are innumerable songs from the 1970s till today that can conjure up a room, a feeling, another person, songs that transport me to another time - another me - whenever I hear them. There are songs that, upon hearing the opening notes, make me cry, or get up and dance or laugh at a memory revived...or just stop to listen and feel.

I turn on the radio in the bathroom while I shower, in the car as I drive anywhere, while I clean, when I cook...I am listening to classical music right now as I write.

Music is an integral part of me.

And so, pondering all this, I wonder: who would I have become without the music that has graced my life from my earliest memories?

I cannot help but think a very different, possibly much less joyful, me.