Even though recorded music is fairly a new medium that is used to spread music

thoroughly, it can never beat the feeling someone may have listening to the same music

live. Especially if someone has a favorite artist(s), then seeing them performing live and

perhaps meeting them after the show can become an unforgettable event. Even if

someone may not have a favorite artist, going to watch a piece live gives them the live

feel of music, and a chance to meet others who have the same interest in that particular

form of music. Even today, we have live concerts that are performed over the internet,

however it can never beat the atmosphere of actually being there because sitting at home

or any other environment is not the same as the real environment. What they may miss

out are the bow going up and down on the violin strings, the singers making comments in

between their songs, and the non-digitally enhanced voice of the musician.

When I went to the Roman Catholic Church for one of Mozart’s piece I realized that

live classical music is quite different than any other form of music. This is because the

musicians try their best to strictly match the original work. It was very

difficult to find discrepancies because the musicians were adhering to the original work,

which is unlike other types of contemporary music. Usually many rock musicians who

play live, either change the words around in many of their songs or play the song in a

different register. Perhaps they do this to give a different vibe to their hit songs and

create a spontaneous environment. I am not by any means trying to say that Mozart’s

piece was boring because yesterday, there were these two classical musicians playing at

Time Square and I surprised myself and stopped to listen to them. The concert that I

went to had many different unfamiliar pieces that were played, and Mozart’s piece was

played in the middle of the show. One great thing about listening to his piece before I

went to the show was that I was very familiar with it and once they began it, the sweet

notes began to flow through my ears and shattered my window of boredom.

When I was listening to Mozart’s recording, I was always searching for the Sonata

form, when the pieces ended or when the violins hit the highest note. However, the live

concert brought all those things together and it wasn’t important anymore to look for

every detail. Instead I was able to sit back and enjoy the music, and it was more

enjoyable when I knew beforehand when the flute and the violins would hit their highest

note. It gave me a feeling of as if I had been a Mozart follower for quite sometime and I

knew what role each instrument played. Before that time, I had never been to a Roman

Catholic Church and the people there were quite ecstatic. I am not sure whether Mozart’s

music had any religious purpose in it or music in itself is something that helps someone

increase his or her faith. However, the dim forefront of the church and the brightly lit

background of the church gave a perfect imagery of the duality that Mozart uses in his

music. His dualities of the use of dominant chords and then suddenly transforming the

entire piece into a thunderous dissonant state are his trademarks.

I know one thing that has changed about me by taking his class is that I listen to music

in quite a different way. I may not have learned a whole lot about music in general but

when I dislike or like a certain kind of music, I know why I feel that way. Also I am able

to explain to someone in literal ways what are the differences between certain kinds of

music without letting my explanation become too vague. As for Mozart, it is very

difficult to comprehend how he wrote such quality music in short periods of time. And

whenever I will pass by a small classical orchestra in Time Square, I will remember that

night I went with my friends to listen to something so old yet so rejuvenating and

thunderous. At times these kinds of music takes us away from all the crazy mosh pits and

puts us in a realm where the music is as thunderous as Metallica or as soft and tonal as

112.

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