1776

With the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the United States of America was born and they freedom that came with this formation rang loudly throughout the world. I can only imagine the celebration that followed and the uproarious chatter and festivities that followed. One thing I found myself thinking about last week as the 4th of July came and went, was how differently we celebrate today in comparison to what that night must've been like.

As a reader of this page and it's various blogs, you may find yourself asking, "what does any of that have to do with music or being mindful?" I for one am extremely happy if you did ask yourself that question, it gives me a chance to explain myself. I think it is important, when celebrating an occasion as momentous as Independence Day, that we take a moment to be mindful and think about what it was like in that moment. I like to try and take a few minutes to put myself in the shoes of someone that was there at the exact moment that it was happening, and then I try and imagine how it felt. In this particular instance, I am almost certain that it was an extreme sense of joy.

Another thing that I found myself thinking about is the music during that time and how extremely different is must have been in comparison to now. If you think about the era, most of the instruments were wind or string, meaning that not a whole heck of a lot went into the music. furthermore, the lyrics told a very specific story about an event or the adventures of the time. For instance, if you listen to the orginal version of the song "Yankee Doodle", which was written during this period, you will be flooded with the sound of wooded instruments accompanied by the melodic sound of strings playing right along with it. This is the origination of American music at its finest, and if you listen closely you will hear the story unfold. More importantly, this was a ballad that people could dance to and was upbeat and up-lifting.

If you found yourself trying to find the point of this post, let me explain my reasoning. I thought following the recent holiday, it would be a good time to remind you all, and myslef, that behind our many holidays and celebrations and traditions in this county is a long line of history. Our past is riddled with moments in time worth reflecting on. As you do, take a moment to consider the ones who made sacrifices for this outcome we now enjoy, those who paved the way for the music of today, and those who made the things we enjoy and hold dear possible for us all these years later. Stay mindful my friends.

~The Mindful Musician