Transform Your Life With Music
- By Bilal Hafeez
- 1 min read
I’ve never really been into music. Films and books are more my thing. But recently I’ve started to appreciate the power of music to transport me to another dimension. It started when I realised that my memories of good films were linked as much to the music of the films as the scenes from the film. I’m thinking about movies like Gladiator, Matrix and Pulp Fiction that all sparked my love of film. All three films have excellent soundtracks. And then when I think about my recent binging of TV shows, the theme soundtracks of the White Lotus and Succession as just as powerful as the visuals.
What this type of music has in common is that often they are instrumental and classical, rather than poppy. And while my musical tastes are eclectic (Noname, Naeleck, Lizzo, St. Vincent), I have never really listened to classical music. But now that I have started, I can see what the fuss is about. At its heart, is the ability of classical music to give us a sense of vastness and elevation. Each listening takes you on a journey in a way most other music cannot. It’s no wonder images of the universe are usually accompanied by classical music (and moves like Kubrick’s 2001:A Space Odyssey).
The best way to dip into classical music is to start with the ‘classics’. When you listen t and let the music elevate you, you can really appreciate it. Here are three tracks I’d recommend:
- Mozart: Requiem K. 626: Lacrimosa. This is accompanied by vocals, and has an epic feel to it.
- Beethoven: Sonata No.14 Moonlight in C-Sharp. This is really well known, but listening to it you can see what it such a classic. It tugs at your heart strings
- Wagner: Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90: Prelude. This is the music to the opera based on the Tristan and Isolde – a story of unrequited love. This music makes great use of silence (like much of classical music) and takes you on a journey. You feel like you have watched a movie by the end of this.
I’d say that classical music can really lift you out of your noisy self-chatter, so start listening now!