My Life is Music

by Susan Weisfeld
Scarsdale Meeting

My life is defined by music. Different genres bring to the present the many stages of my life. My parents escaped from Vienna after Kristallnacht, to Ecuador, a strange land with an unfamiliar language and culture. They were determined to make a new life despite the trauma of loss, and brought their deep love of music with them, wherever they went — eventually to New York — where they instilled in their only child a lifelong love for waltzes, opera and Beethoven.

Beethoven — so amazing! Always hearing the Pastorale I see my mom on the day before she passed away, eyes closed, listening enthralled to this incredible piece. And the Strauss Emperor Waltz — an 8-year old joyously dancing with my father on New Year’s Eve, balanced on his moving feet. And Streisand’s spirit-filled version of Avenu Malkeinu makes my heart ache as I feel the warmth of my long-ago Brooklyn family during the Jewish holy days.

Life wasn’t always easy but music always was there: Do-Wop music helped me through difficult pre-teen and teenage years — a significant rebellion against my parents. Thanks to SiriusXM satellite radio I can listen (and sing) while I drive — bringing back so clearly the awkwardness, pain and also the fun of those days! My college days were when Freedom bus rides and marches were energized with songs of protest. Hearing them I’m instantly transported back to those scary and optimistic days when our mission seemed reachable. 

College years were also filled with romance and wonderful sharing with friends — that past comes into focus and becomes part of my present when I hear the virtuosity of progressive jazz, also on Sirius XM called “smooth” jazz. Who knew years later a wonderful friend would be the wife of Stan Getz, and I would meet and share some time on my recent birthday with Eric Marienthal — wow! 

So I think my comfort food is music — food for my spirit. Music is nourishment — in a way it’s my life. I cry when hearing “Ave Maria,” and my heart swells when I hear “Perfect Symphony” sung in amazing harmony by Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli. A prayer of gratitude surfaces every time I watch the YouTube video of street musicians, Playing for Change, performing “Stand By Me.”

Many gospel favorites bring me spirit-filled joy but one special memory is first experiencing “Rocka My Soul In The Bosom Of Abraham” at a performance of Alvin Ailey. One cannot help but be spirit-filled as the song fills the air — I recommend it to the NYYM playlist from “Revelations.” You can’t not sing along and start to dance! No Way!

In this later stage of maturity (where did the years go?) I’m continuously grateful to YouTube and Napster for giving me the opportunity to appreciate, and be introduced to, an incredible world of music which I never would have been able to experience. Through my laptop I am in the audience to applaud Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé as they perform “Barcelona,” and I am able to hear (and see!) Celine Dion’s phenomenal performance at the Eiffel Tower singing “L’Hymne A L’Amour.”

I watch and listen over and over — my heart is filled and my spirit renewed, and I remember where I was, and yesterday becomes part of today . . . and so with gratitude I look forward with joy and determination to try to make things better for the world, because I was given this beautiful gift of music and I need to return the favor.