DECEMBER

February 07, 2025

DECEMBER

"December is the toughest month of the year. Others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, October, August, and February." — Mark Twain

Hi everyone,

ABSTRACT NONSENSE

Mark Twain was on point when he noted, in his typical sarcastic way, that life is difficult. I couldn't agreed more, and for that reason, if I may, I should add that life does not care, it just goes on. Sometimes, life feels similar to one of those abstract nonsense modern paintings, hanging from a wall of a gallery, without projecting any real meaning nor comfort.

From a very young age, I realized music always came to my rescue, whether it was December or August, January or April. I knew music had the power to protect me. I made music a hiding place, a place where I could laugh or cry, be sad or happy, fantasize about fantastic places. A safe and secret hideout from where, I felt the courage of seeing the biggest storms passing by.

NOT ENOUGH SPACE

If I could make a list of all the songs I've enjoyed through the years, I would not have enough space to write all their titles. Now, if I could narrow the list to my top ten favorite songs, I know, I'd have to write, unjustly, a brand new list every day.

Music is in a constant movement ready to influence the way I see the world, the way I think about myself, and the manner I interact with others. Music is not what it seems, everyone perceives sounds differently, making it one of the most mysterious forms of art. I cannot really say, a song is more beautiful than the other because, it's a rather personal choice.

In today’s pop culture, music composers, don't always get the full credit they deserved, instead, interpreters get shower with all the glory. There is further, the commercial compositions, given them the sole purpose of making a fast, easy sell. Still, there exist celebrated music composers, willingly and happily doing the ungrateful job of creating music for the sake of art.

GUILTY PLEASURE

I have a list of cheesy, trashy songs that I called: My guilty pleasure. Indeed, it's embarrassing admitting, even to myself, the utter enjoyment I get, out of such nonsense. With this sort of songs, sometimes I question my own sanity, and for that reason, I'll not reveal the titles here.

There's another category of songs I consider to be powerful and beautiful at the same time. Each of these pieces have a very persuasive melody that it is impossible to ignore, and in only three minutes, more or less, each manages to convey a substantial message. Melody, harmony, and lyrics, the essential elements in music, when combined, hold the potential to alter the chemistry in my body, making me feel alive.

Zombie by Dolores O'riordan
Not you by Alan Walker
Troy by Sinead O'connor
Bonnie Winds by Bohinta
Bedtime Stories by Bjork
Oceanographer by Hada to Hada

IRISH SHORES

If you are reading these lines, you've already guessed that when it comes to music, my heart, to a great degree, is set on Irish shores. There is something about Irish music in general, that is a bit tragic, a bit intense, and passionate. Each song in my list, is comparable to a powerful magnet, it lays hold of my entire existence and doesn't easily let me go.

I hesitated at the time I wrote this small list, because in reality, my top ten list includes six hundred songs or more. Unashamedly, my musical taste doesn't orbited only around Irish songs. Because music is consistently evolving, I am anticipating with gusto, all the music that I'll be introduce to, in the future.

CREATE AND SHARE

That's why, through this piano/cello duet, from my Notebook series: "All Year Round Music", I'm making a memorable dedication to music composers. For making the effort to create, and ultimately, to share with the whole world, all the exciting ideas living in their imagination alone.

Music makes its way through, and just like an arrow, it goes directly into my heart. There is nothing I cannot fix with a bit of music. As a musician, my life revolves around it. Whether is December, November, March, January or July, with music, there is meaning to the abstract life that I _ as if I had giving the choice_ am living.

Until next time

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