Why Music Makes Me Happy

Summary

Agnes Laurens, a writer and violinist from Bunnik, The Netherlands, shares her profound love for classical music and its significance in her life, encouraging others to embrace and understand it.

Abstract

Agnes Laurens expresses her deep passion for classical music, which began in her childhood and has continued to flourish throughout her life. She recounts how hearing Tsjaikovski's violin concerto played by Maxim Vengerov inspired her to play the violin and amass a collection of classical music performances. Agnes emphasizes the emotional connection she feels with classical music, finding it challenging yet important to articulate these feelings. She believes that understanding the historical context and emotions behind compositions enhances the experience of both playing and listening to classical music. Agnes also enjoys singing in a choir and aspires to share her joy of classical music with others, advocating that knowledge of composers and their era enriches one's appreciation. She invites readers to explore her thoughts on her Substack page, sign up for her mailing list, and follow her on social media for updates on her upcoming Patreon page.

Opinions

Classical music is a source of joy and purpose for Agnes, deeply intertwined with her emotions.
Understanding the lives of composers and the historical context of their music is crucial for a richer appreciation of classical music.
Classical music is likened to drama from the time of the composer, emphasizing its narrative quality.
Agnes is open to people enjoying diverse music genres but has a particular enthusiasm for those who also strive to understand classical music.
She values sharing her love for classical music and writing, aiming to connect with others who appreciate these passions.

I think, no, I know, I talk a lot about how I love classical music. I can’t help it. It is my passion since my childhood.

My sister played a CD with the Tsjaikovski violin concerto — played by Maxim Vengerov (since then my favorite violinist). I love it so much that I play the violin a lot (and a lot more since the crisis) and I listen to classical music a lot as well. I even have a playlist on youtube with videos of performances from classical musicians. Now I write this, I’m playing that YouTube list.

How can I explain how much I love classical music? That is so difficult when I just feel it in my system. Sometimes it is difficult to express your feelings in words, although that is what I also love to do, some things are just a feeling and that feeling will be hard to describe. I will try anyway because I think it is very important to embrace classical music as it supposed to be played or as it supposed to listen to.

As I already told you, I started playing the violin at the age of seven. One year before, I have played the cello. Also, I sang in a children’s choir when I was about ten years old. Every Monday afternoon singing with fellow singers. I loved it very much. Music is in my blood. I enjoy it very much.

Music gives me joy and a purpose in my life. It gives me the emotions I want to understand in my life. The emotions I feel in my system and I want to share it with everybody I love and with everybody that understands it. And actually, I want to share this joy with everybody in the world because why wouldn’t we share the joy we have? That is how much I love classical music. What is your experience with classical music?

I think it is very important to know how classical music works and what to do to understand it. You will be much richer when you search and read about the composers, the time they lived in, and about their feelings while writing their music. When you know about it all, you know how to play the piece and you know how to listen to classical music. When you listen to opera, you will hear — when you listen well — that opera is drama from the time of the comper.

I don’t mind if people also listen to other music than classical music, but I love it when you also try to understand it.

Agnes Laurens is a writer. She writes for the local newspaper. Agnes lives in Bunnik, The Netherlands, with her husband and three daughters. Writing is — aside from playing the violin — one of her passions since childhood. She is on Twitter and Instagram.

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