The year couldn't wait longer for another instalment of #weekend-engagement. I've come with a musical topic for this entry.
When we talk about the things music makes us feel, we could say a lot. Except there are not word to put simple the things said in music. It can arise feelings of joy, ecstasy, lust, pride, etc.; or, it could bring forth sadness, melancholy, pain, just you name a few. Great music deals in th whole rainbow of the emotional spectrum.
As I write these words, I'm thinking about changing my song of choice for this post. I already talk enough about Traditional Venezuelan Music and even its more modern forms. So, I wanted to adress a piece tat got me hooked for years. I'm not kidding. I listened to this for more than a year since I discovered the cover.
The song is called The Ecstasy of Gold from Italian composer Enio Morricone. It is part of the original sound track for the fil "The Good, the Bad, the Ugly". That name should ring a bell if you're a film lover. The guy is a genius of film scores. His sound tracks are some of the most beautiful you could find in cinema. However, I want to adress a cover made by classical guitarist Michael Durrant, alongside flamenco guitarist Samuel Moore.
Here's the piece:
About the feelings that the songs arises, here's my emotional reading.
Something scout the music makes me feel the dryness of the wild west. Like there's no water in kilometers and it's high noon. I listen to the quiet towns and the uneasy tension among the daily activities of people. The tension built through the chord progressions speaks about something ominous coming. And the flamenco technique in the strumming pattern emulates a horse galloping fast towards fate.
The melody on the other hands, tañks about a second figure getting ready for a duel. The score must settled!
There's a moment of peace. It's the calm before the first shot. Adversaries measure their strength in a contest of looks. You can even see your thoughts closing the vignette to make room just for the eyes of the opponents.
After the quiet time, memories arise. The confrontation isn't between good and evil. It's about greed. Partners are faced against partners. Only one may stand at the end of the duel. All ends in a shot. But who wins?
In western fashion, it should be the good guy, but who knows. It's open to interpretion. The whole song gives you this feeling of an epic confrontation about to happen. All the tension built along the silences and cadences ends in a resounding halt. There's a echo towards the end. It could be the sound of a body dropping. Maybe it was the shots fired.
It is a thrilling song that gives me goose bumps each time I listen to it. And as weird as it may sound for the whole lot of interpretation said before, it gives me loads of motivation and energy. Like people who listen to electronic music in the gym.
It's amazing how music can makes us feel a certain way.
What did you feel with this one? What is that songs that makes you feel in a specific way? Don't hesitate to tell me in the comment section.
Have a great weekend. Stay creative!
Michael is a guitarist I can't recommend enough. He's very active in social media and always answers comments. Check out his YouTube Channel. The link will be in the credit section.
- Thumbnail: created by me in Canva.
- Video for music 📹: taken from Micheal Christian Durrant YouTube Channel.
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