Long Road
MUSIC Information:
- Before The Sun Goes Down
- F major/D minor
- 36 Measures
- Cello and Piano
- 2:45 min
- 3 Pages
Medical science has made such progress that there is hardly a healthy human left. — Aldοus Huxley
THE POWER OF MUSIC
Music is often credited with powerful curative properties, although the full extent of its healing capacity remains difficult to measure. What we do know is that sound—and music in particular—can significantly improve quality of life and help mitigate symptoms of various conditions. The therapeutic potential of music has been documented since ancient times, appearing in healing practices across cultures. Whether or not music can literally mend our broken bodies, it fulfills a fundamental human need that goes beyond physical restoration.
Illness can manifest in the mind, the body, or both. No one is exempt from this disruption of our natural state_ we all face it in one form or another. The variety of maladies is endless. Some are vicious attacking our bodies aggressively, inflicting unthinkable suffering. Disorders can quietly and slowly invade our bodies, deceiving our perception until the illness itself becomes impossible to detect.
THE LONG ROAD
We, then, embark in a long road, searching desperately for something_ or someone_ that might ease the pain and hold the secret to our relief. Sometimes cures don't exist. It is then when we have to rely on a different mechanism. Eventually, we are force to walk the long road of surrender_ and surrender we do_ completely, to the inevitable.
A great number of disorders are easy to treat_ they may disappear with a simple concoction made at home. Others are so subtle that they persistently attack our minds affecting our emotions to the core, making us profoundly vulnerable. They are terribly similar to a ticking bomb besides us, about to detonate. These affected emotions, of which we rarely speak, are common struggles we handle daily. Yet remedies for our tormented minds are not always easily at our reach.
SURVIVAL MODE
The mental afflictions that humans try at all cost to keep confidential are not meant to be known or seen by others. These indispositions torment our essence to the deepest degree, poisoning our judgment and making us feel a colossal guilt. Therefore, we are force to deny their very existence.
The disorders of the mind_ which easily fog our discernment_ can modify our behavior to the extent that, we do not comprehend what's taking place in our lives. When that transpires, some of us barely manage daily tasks and slip into survival mode, acting recklessly. We put ourselves_ and those around us_ in potential danger. Yet we do not know, and we do not care.
MERE COMFORT
Aside from everything else, whatever malady occurs in our lives, we simply need someone to take charge. We suddenly become exposed, useless, tired and often hopeless. Nevertheless, it is always gratifying to know that someone or something can heal us. Often, our last desperate attempt to feel better comes from an unexpected source. A source to rely on at all times for mere comfort.
In composing "Long Road" I explored whether music could serve as that remedy _ not the cure, but to accompany us through the entangled paths of desperate search for relief, the quiet invasion of suffering, and the eventual surrender we all must face. Indeed, to me, music is a safe refuge that keeps monsters at bay.
I've called this piece "Long Road" because it is precisely about the struggles we face when our emotions are touched by physical pain, mental illness, or the imminent suffering that comes with being in love_ which is, I believe, a real mixture of physical discomfort and mental agony.
PART OF THE DANCE
The piece reminds me to embrace every emotion for what it is, especially when I am ill: sadness, fear, guilt, depression, shame. It reminds me also to forgive myself when I stumble due to negative emotions. Even better, I will try to make that clumsy wobble part of the dance.
I sincerely hope you remember to use music as an aid to bring comfort to whatever you may be going through, helping shortened the road to a fair distance where you can enjoy peace of mind.