Being a person who may not have played much music, I've always been an avid listener. In fact, I'm one of those people who needs to have music playing at all times. Even when I'm sleeping, I sometimes like to have music on in the background, in the hope that it will seep into my dreams. My obsession for music is somewhat eccentric that I don't find in many other people I know. But for me, music has a unique ability to transport me to another world.
Spring is almost here, and I have a few go-to songs that I always listen to around this time of year. I used to think I liked winter, but over the past few years, I've come to realize that I don't enjoy it nearly as much as I thought. While I used to enjoy the crisp air and other winter sensations, I'm much more excited about the arrival of spring these days. February is always a tough month for me. Even though it's the shortest month of the year, it always seems to drag on forever. It feels like I'm stuck in a dark tunnel, just waiting for a light to appear at the end. To help me through this tough time, I rely on music that reminds me of spring.
One of my favorite pieces of music to listen to when I want to feel like it's spring is Schubert's “Im Frühling.” The title itself suggests that the piece is about spring, and it takes me back to the early spring of 2010, when all my worries and concerns were limited to life on campus. I first heard this piece in a music theory class led by a passionate teacher, who helped me appreciate every word and chord. As I listened to the music, I looked outside and saw the peaceful grass and trees in Tappan Square. I felt that happiness was within reach.
The same piece also evokes memories of a more recent phase of my life when I used to regularly take the Brooklyn-bound morning subway D line. As the train passed the Manhattan Bridge, the surrounding was serene and empty, and I savored watching the sunrise. Whenever I listen to “Im Frühling," it takes me back to these specific instances in my life, and I feel a sense of tranquility and attachment to the spring season.
One album that holds a special place in my heart is “Close to the Edge” by Yes. It's my favorite album of all time, and if I were stranded on a deserted island and could only bring one album, it would be this one. Although I stopped listening to it for a while because I was afraid it might lose its special quality, I recently found a used LP in Seattle and am now enjoying it again with a fresh perspective. I first discovered this album when some friends and I borrowed our music theory teacher's car to visit a friend in the hospital on a beautiful, sunny day in May 2012. We were curious about what our teacher listened to when he was in the car, so we played the audio system and discovered that he had been listening to “Close to the Edge.” At the time, all my worries and concerns were confined to college, and I had mixed feelings about the future since it was only a couple of weeks before graduation. I just wanted to savor the moment before it was gone.
Starting from the latter part of 2012 and throughout 2013, I became heavily invested in the realm of progressive rock, yet struggled to discover an album that surpassed my fondness for "Close to the Edge." This was during my time in New York City, where I was freshly situated and eager for future prospects. Wherever I went in the city - whether it was a leisurely stroll around the block, riding the bus to school, commuting via subway to the Metropolitan Museum, running errands to an art store in SoHo, or even when simply socializing with my roommate over drinks - this album accompanied me.
For me, music is much more than just a series of sounds and harmonies. It's a tool I use to temporarily forget about my worries and concerns, to revisit old memories, and to find peace and happiness.
