Antonio Vivaldi, The Four Seasons (1717)

Love at First Listen KDFC asks "What sparked your love to classical music?" I remember the moment well— June 15, 1968 at my apartment 109 Catherine Street in Ithaca at Cornell, writing my first poem "I See Joy" while listening to Vivaldi's Four Seasons— the 2nd movement of "Winter" sparkled my soul to flame— the solo violin with pizzicato strings portraying a steady falling of rain, giving me the feeling of being a snowflake or raindrop— I played this largo movement over again and again— while raindrops fell out musically, 36 poetic couplets poured forth easily as from the sky— I would contemplate on nature and the arts, writing the first line of the couplet while the second line flowed instantly. At last I understood what Paul Klee meant "My hand is the instrument of a distant sphere"— finishing my poem in a day, inspired by classical music's wondrous blessings. I see joy in the harmonious expression of music I see joy in music tender touches of the sublime. I see joy in the dancer's eloquent leap across space I see joy in the dancer's spiritual triumph over time. Made header, later learned was an epigraph of notes to Beethoven's 9th Symphony with Schiller's Ode to Joy: "O you millions, I embrace you. Here's a joyful kiss for all."                 Peter Y. Chou                 Mountain View, 9-26-2019