In the Philippines, classical music is considered an upper-class phenomenon, and it’s hard for the common man to relate to it. I was brought up like most Filipinos: drenched in pop music. When I arrived in Spain, my knowledge of the great classical music tradition in Europe was almost nonexistent. My husband’s friend, Swedish flutist Per-Olov Sahl, became our guest for two weeks. I gained an eye-opening insight into what culture is, as well as the discipline and deep thought behind it.
Per-Olov Sahl mainly plays the flute, but also brought his classical guitar and electric piano from Sweden. Just so that he could rehearse on all three instruments every day for hours on each one, can you imagine? This strong discipline fascinated me and is something we Filipinos have a lot to learn from 🙂
He was always up very early, and to avoid disturbing us, he drove his car down to the beach to play the flute for a few hours. After breakfast, he played the piano for hours using earphones, and after dinner, he played his guitar for a few hours. I thought he was preparing for a big gig, but he was honing his skills. He practices intensively, about seven to eight hours a day. He considers it a lifestyle; he’s breathing and living music.
I asked him what he considered the biggest performance of his life, and his answer took me aback. His biggest performance ever was to be born: his way out from his mother’s womb and his first scream, driven by a strong desire to survive. I couldn’t help but smile when the afterthought hit me.
According to Per-Olov, life should be more spontaneous. Animals have pure joy; they play a lot, and their behaviors are genuine. Humans are born separated from nature and are trained to rule it instead of cooperating with it. As we mature, we don’t even know if everything is an illusion or governed by something on a much higher level than us, and music can lift us up to that light if we understand the nature of classical music, like Beethoven’s Destiny Symphony.
No wonder a man like Per-Olov can see the kind of magic our little town of La Herradura exudes. The vibe is easy to feel, and it’s a very relaxing venue for artists.
I asked him what advice he would give to young musicians, and he said: Practice a lot, but don’t feel pressured. Do it out of joy, not to be famous. Believe that music will lead you to something valuable, beyond materialism. Have the vision to help other people. Feel the energy of life. Develop yourself by understanding the universal truths hidden in music and gain peace of mind.
2 responses to “Music and the Mysteries of the Universe”
[…] my wife Grace wrote the Part 1 of Music and the Mysteries of the Universe in 2016, she described how our friend, the Swedish […]
[…] guitarist. Last autumn, my husband introduced him to the Swedish flute player and guitarist, Per-Olov Sahl, who was impressed with Gunnar’s skills. They became friends. Gunnar developed his skills further […]