Since I was a child, the sound of music filled our house and the houses we visited; a guitar, a cuatro, güiro, congas and panderos all formed a symphony of “cultura.” I remember being 9-years old and catching the “music bug.” I was standing in the living room listening to a song when I suddenly felt inspired. I called my father to come listen to me sing. “Feelings” by Morris Albert was the song that launched my living room debut. I knew then, I had entered a magical portal; a portal where feelings came alive through musical notes. My father clapped for me as I hit each high note. The joy I experienced while watching his kind smile is forever engraved on my heart. I brought him happiness. I wanted more of that feeling. I learned to play the guitar and wrote songs. I sang at community events, school and church. Music became an intrinsic part of my life.
Music can make you feel proud and move you at your very core. A song holds within its notes poems about love, sadness, and celebration. A song’s minor notes invite us to experience the depths of those emotions. The perfect chord progression creating a physiological response. Oh, how my heart would soar while listening to my grandfather, Abuelo, playing his cuatro—the national instrument of Puerto Rico. Abuelo would play songs about the homeland invoking within us a feeling of nostalgia as we joined with our voices. There were no voice lessons to perfect the technique. With pride and passion, we belted the lyrics to En Mi Viejo San Juan and Verde Luz. I felt a longing as I listened to my Tia Rosi and Tia Yolanda capture within their voices a heartfelt love for an island that lived deep within their souls. ¡Oh Boriken! We stood tall as we sang in embellished accompaniment by the solo star on our flag.
Music is celebration! I have heard it said that we read to know we are not alone. This applies to music as well. We sing to know we are not alone. In our family, every gathering was a reason to bring out the guitar played by Tio Jose and Tio Jorge. Every Christmas we would travel from house-to-house serenading family and friends with our traditional Christmas songs. Each person we sang to would join our parranda to sing at the next house. Our parranda, the perfect example of what it means to spread joy through the celebratory nature of music. We do not have to know the lyrics or the language. The music touches our innermost being creating a bond. As Hans Christian Andersen said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” We cannot help but feel moved to celebration by the plethora of dancing notes of a song.
Music is a healing balm that transforms a heart burdened by loss. I work at a shelter for asylum seekers. Two years ago, for Christmas, my family and I shared the experience of a parranda with our residents. To partake in such jubilation amidst people who have endured unimaginable pain on their journeys to the United States was a moment we will never forget. There was dancing, clapping and ululations accompanying each song. We were one. Music became the universal language of our hearts. Together we freed our voices as we sang in unison. Everybody contributing to the songs from a deep well of culture and tradition. The bridge of the song becoming that wonderous moment when we realize the pain is gone.
Music reminds us of the resiliency of the human spirit. When we sing together, we elevate ourselves beyond everyday living. During the COVID pandemic, a local theater company exhorted people to share their experience through a video series titled, “Art that Heals.” The Buffalo community shared videos of themselves singing. My limited guitar skills accompanied my family. As we sang together, we found comfort in the lyrics of a song, “Hallelujah.” We experienced divine human connection. The isolation no longer existed. Music soothed our fearful thoughts. Suddenly, we dared to sing a new song. A new song that offered us hope for a healthier and safer tomorrow.
I have the privilege of coming from a culture and a family that understands the power of music. When words lacked, we sang. When we were sad, we sang. When we were happy, we sang. When we gathered in church and sought to express gratitude to our Creator, we sang. When we longed for change, we sang. Music can reach thoughts and emotions, transforming them with a majestic arrangement. “Music can change the world because it can change people,” Bono once said. We can all agree that the world is in need of change. Music can be a catalyst that leads to change. There’s a role for us all in a song: composers, conductors, arrangers, singers, instrumentalists, dancers, audiences and more. As it is to a song, it is in the world… there is room for us all. We all belong. We are all part of the same song.
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