September 10, 2013 (Tuesday)
I remember visiting relatives in East Texas and seeing a violin and a guitar in their home. No one played them while we were there, but I’m sure someone in the family was able to play. In other homes there were pianos, and sometimes an organ, electric and pedal. Later on we had brass and wind instruments in the home as the kids joined the school band. We still have the piano on which Wanda learned to play as a child.
The most used “instrument” in our home was the radio. Not many stations, but some played music, which came in many different forms. My grandfather left behind a phonograph that played cylinders of music by using phonograph needles. The speaker was a long funnel-like device. No electricity. Neighbors had a wind-up phonograph that looked like a huge dining room buffet chest.
Later on my uncle had a record player that played 78 rpm records one at a time. After that he got one that changed records automatically. As time went on, many people had those in their homes. Then came the small 45 rpm disks, and finally the 33 rpm long playing records.
Soon all this was followed by hi-fidelity players and stereophonic devices. Recording tapes were later avilable to virtually everyone, reel to reel, 8 track, or cassette. What a day. Lots of music. Of all kinds.
Today we have CD’s that play music in our cars, mp3 players that fit in our pockets, and, of course, the radios are still around, only much more sophisticated than those in the old days. Even television features music stations 24 hours a day. No talk. Just music.
“Music soothes the savage beast.” The Bible tells us that King Saul was calmed by David’s music on the harp. So it has been. So it is. Listen to some good music today. Better still, play and/or sing some of your own.