MUSICAL SOUVENIRS - 3 tips for your summer travels
I just returned from a quick vacation trip to Montreal. I don’t travel much for vacation, but when I do, I make sure to bring back as many artistic inspirations as I can.
I call them my ‘musical souvenirs’.
I love this quote when I am out and about collecting musical souvenirs:
“Whatever lifts the corners of your mouth, trust that”
Here are three fun ways to collect inspirations en route:
1. Sights
This one is the easiest. Simply notice what sights you enjoy, what you feel inspired by, and what makes you smile, like the beauty and grandeur of a landscape that easily translates into a magnificent piece of music.
This musical souvenir from my recent trip to Canada makes me imagine the gentle flow of the last movement of Beethoven’s Tempest Sonata.
2. Sounds
Since music is all about listening, why not listen for different sounds as you travel, like the symphony of church bells on a Sunday morning, or the street chatter in a foreign language. Then set those sounds to music you enjoy. I love Mendelssohn’s ‘Leicht und Luftig’ for street chatter.
Once you start looking for sounds, there is a lot to choose from for your musical souvenir collection.
3. Scents
This is a pro tip since scents seem so far removed from music, but they can be magical. I love the smell of coffee when walking through a town. Debussy’s Sights and Fragrances Prelude is a wonderful choice for scents.
Musical souvenirs inspire the backstories for my concerts. They help me find creative images for my playing, and the keep my sound fresh and current. Try it! I am sure it will enrichen your music experiences.
I would love to hear from you about your musical souvenirs!