I regularly listen to Classical Music; mostly I access the content via local radio (shout out to KDFC 104.9 FM in the SF Bay Area!). In car, in the kitchen, the radio is on and the background sounds are often from Classical Music: Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Vivaldi.

Honestly speaking, even after all these years – decades, really – I only recognize a handful of pieces when I hear them. But I mostly love the genre, love the music. It’s visceral and calming; it helps me cope with life day to day.

And of course, the true “classics” are hundreds of years old; century periods are characterized by where they fall into the evolution of the music. Too, when we think of orchestras and symphonies, we maybe think of black tie & tails, evening gowns, stuffy affairs.

But back in the day when the music was created, it was often down and dirty, in how it was created and developed, anyway. When Classical Music was THE preferred form of entertainment, when it was only played and listened to live well, it poured out of the composers and performing musicians when direct line to the listeners; the music was captured and transferred to instruments in the most basic and raw form sometimes.

And it was so GOOD.

Hundreds of years later, still soothing the nerves, delighting listeners the world over.

SO GOOD.

Image Courtesy of Classical KDFC 104.9 FM in the San Francisco Bay Area, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony Sheet.