A book on Beethoven - and about Western Classical music

Beethoven and Friends:

By Kishore Chatterjee

Those who are familiar with Western Classical Music in India, will also be familiar with Kishore Chatterjee's 

radio talks about them. He has also anchored various shows on this subject and has also taken part in talks about it at Calcutta University and Jadavpur University, among other places.

His book, Beethoven and Friends, is all about the history of Western Classical history, through the unusual format of stories about those who were a part of it.

I have enjoyed the book as much as I have enjoyed listening to Western Classical music, which is a lot. Music for me has meant peace and relaxation, it has meant a transcendence into a world of joy and blissful sounds. I have never really attempted to understand the nuances of symphonies nor of operas, Mozart and Beethoven were just my lifelong friends who gave me some amazing music.

However, after reading this book, I have begun to pay more attention to what I am listening to, it has made me realise that there is a lot more to it than just the sound of it. His section "Simply About Symphonies"was a pleasure to read since, like the rest of the book,it is written in simple "layman" terms.

About Bach he says:

"Of all the great composers, the life of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is, apparently, the least dramatic. All the drama took place in his mind and was reflected in his music"

All through the book, there are little snippets about the lives of the musicians, and about the history of music. Suddenly, you begin to understand why the tenors are the kings of opera; why the piano was not a part of the orchestra until the Romantic Ages; what were the Gregorian Chants and when was this very spiritual and very mystical music composed ?

If you are an avid fan of Western classical music, and even if you are not, read this book. It will make you want to hear the pieces of music that he describes so eloquently and also to pay a little more attention to what you are listening to.

He is a very good writer and he has put his years of knowledge and experience into a written format, for all of us to peruse and enjoy.

Beethoven and Friends - Niyogi Books 

 

Sandwich Generation - a term that most women born in the 40s and 50s are familiar with

" During my childhood, I was afraid of my parents. As I grew older my teachers bossed me. Once I got married, I was afraid of my in-laws and my husband. Then my children took over and again I was the subdued one. Now my daughter-in-law has arrived and even though she is a lovely person, I am afraid to say anything to her because she might get offended."

Does this refrain sound familiar? Does it touch a chord somewhere - or do you mock it and wonder which spineless woman is talking in this fashion?

You will be surprised at how many women feel that life has somehow passed them by. Somewhere their individuality has been submerged in the sea of family and obligations. This is the generation of women who we have termed as "the sandwiched generation."

Most of these women were born between 1945 and 1960. They were children when Freedom was achieved and were among the first few who were a part of the education system of Free India.

They grew up in the heady days of Jawaharlal Nehru, Dev Anand, Rajendra Kumar and of course the Beatles. Salwar kameezs were tight fitting, and the dress code was mainly dresses when you were in school and sarees as you grew older.

Many of them studied in colleges and completed their Bachelor's Degrees.

Few sought careers - and those who did found themselves limited to Medicine, Teaching or maybe Law. Marriage was the ultimate goal of the majority of these women, and by the time college had been completed - the process of arranged marriages had begun.

Social life before marriage was limited to films, an occasional group outing and very few mixed parties

There was a sea-change in their lives after marriage.

Suddenly they were asked to play the roles of housewives, daughter-in-laws, sister-in-laws and wives. Most of them were completely unprepared and definitely unqualified for this. But soon the majority of them learnt how to excel in all the roles they played. Their homes were immaculate, their children were nurtured and cherished, and their husbands were given unflinching devotion and support.

But, as they grew older they watched while their children realise their mother's dreams.

'Be yourself' became the mantra of the next generation and 'sacrifice yourself' remained the mantra of their own generation.

Trousers and Designer Suits became the fashion statement of the day, and new and extensive career opportunities became available for all the younger women.

But what about their emotions, their ambitions and their dreams?

Education showed them what they could achieve but society set the parameters of their lives. They went through college and an occasional professional course mechanically, knowing that marriage was the ultimate goal of their lives. The few who considered following a career found that their goals were limited. Any ambitions to do anything different were nipped in the bud by anxious parents and by traditional in-laws.

Today as these women reach their 60s and their children grow up and move out of their homes - the aimlessness of their lives becomes a sore point. Their mothers lived within the confines of their homes and families, quite happily, with few sounds of protests. Their daughters (with some encouragement from their mothers) had moved into careers or professional courses and were beginning to seek out lives of their own.

But sandwiched between them were these ladies - educated, savvy, and intelligent with no place to use their knowledge and expertise.

Where do they stand today?

"Aimless and drifting between family and home."

There will be many who will disagree with this statement - but look around you in the metropolises of India. How many middle aged women can claim to have led a fulfilling individual existence? As mothers, as wives, as housekeepers, as daughter-in-laws they have probably surpassed themselves - but as individual entities - there is an unanswered question there.

Where do we ( since I am one of them also) go from here? Today, we are entering the evenings of our lives - some contented and happy, some wondering about their faint sense of unease - of unfulfilled dreams and lost ambitions. Some have begun to seek fulfillment in avenues such as social work and 'good causes'; others have sought refuge in active social lives. Trim waistlines have been replaced by expanding girths, hair colour is something you generate from a bottle, and diets are something your children should adhere to.

But do not mistake this sense of disquietude for despondency.. We have realized that we are the bulwark of our families. We take credit for their successes - form their backbones when they need support - and provide experienced shoulders when they need something to cry on. We stand proudly and elegantly in society, respected and loved by our families; but with a faint sense of unease and unfulfilled dreams

Elections - why are the educated people not too concerned about them?

What concerns and bothers me :
1. Is there really no alternative to crooks as politicians - surely there are some good ones out there?
2. Why are people so unconcerned about the elections - our vote affects only our area but surely we can raise awareness about the importance of these votes
3. How do we get the politicians to listen to us and stop fighting among themselves - this is definitely a hypothetical question - I must be foolish to expect an answer to it !!
4. Is our future going to be determined by the power of our votes or by the power of which party is able to buy the most members of parliament ?

Every newspaper seems to have nothing but election news as part of their coverage. This is to be expected and basically because elections are an important part of our system of governance.
Then why is it that most of the educated people do not seem to be concerned about it? Is there a sense of dejavu in this, or is it because they feel that their votes do not really matter. Or would they go to vote if they had they the option of voting for NOTA ( none of the above )

These elections are probably going to be the most important after the ones held after the Emergency. The regional parties are beginning to gain prominence and they may hold the key to who rules from New Delhi. We are all complaining about their policies and their ethics and the basis on which they are formed but we cannot ignore their existence. So it becomes imperative that we go out and cast our vote .

I believe - in a lot of what is written below - and in a lot more !!

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born

A Death Certificate shows that we died

Pictures show that we lived!

Have a seat . . . Relax . . .

And read this slowly..

I Believe...

That just because two people argue,

It doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
It doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
We understand that friends change.

I Believe....
That no matter how good a friend is,

They're going to hurt you every once in a while

And you MUST forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow,

Even over the longest distance.

I Believe.....
That you can do something in an instant
That will give you heartache for life.

I Believe....
That you should always leave loved ones with
Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe....
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done,

Regardless of the consequences.

I Believe....
That my best friend and I,

Can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe.....
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down,

Will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry,

I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe....
That maturity has more to do with

What types of experiences you've had
And what you've learned from them

And less to do with

How many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe....
That it isn't always enough,

To be forgiven by others..

Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken

The world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe....
That our background and circumstances

May have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe....
Two people can look at the exact same
Thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
Hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give,

When
A friend cries out to you -

You will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall

Do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life

Are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...
That you should send this to

All of the people that you love and believe in,

I just did.

'The happiest of people don't necessarily

Have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything.

Thank you God for all the wonderful people who have helped

Me throughout my journey of life..