Music lessons from poetry

There's something about constricted little commentboxes and little romantic moments that spark my mind. So far "My Harmony" is the fastest poem I've written, not including haikus. I composed it on Facebook's comment box without any intention. Just thinking, zoning out, for no particular reason, maybe I was thinking about that Inscape submission, I think I was looking at pictures and was about to comment on one of them when I came across this music that carried me out of that hemisphere.

"Prince of Mist" is composed by one of my favorite authors, Carlos Ruiz Zafon.  He's from Spain and he makes music for his novels, which I think is a very nice touch. As I listened, I noticed how each simple note, when combined altogether in progression, can make something so beautiful. I also gladly realized that, yes, I can play this on the piano. BUT I can only play with my right hand, what I will later on learn, the part that's called melody. It struck me that I didn't know what the other half that makes a song so wholesome is called. So what is this other half? 

After researching (with facebook as the search engine) a friend replied "Basically speaking, melody is the right hand (when playing the piano) and is a group of notes that sound nice when played one after the other. Harmony is what the left hand is for. It accompanies the melody adding background sounds to make the piece even more dramatic and plainly awesome :)" Now this is the part when I experience my epiphany. 

Melody is the most noticeable part of the song, the lyrics, the part that we can hum or sing along with, the part that I can play on the piano. And harmony is so crucial not only to revive my vapid piano skills, but also to anything and anyone. Harmony completes melody. Music wouldn't be what it is without melody and harmony together. Like how Mr. Zafon composes music to accompany his novels, how sunlight is food to the plants, how cheese is to macaroni, how host cell is to virus, how our incomes are to the economy's Gross Domestic Product -- all those cheesy stuff you can think of. It's a complement. 

It seems there's no standing alone, we're all connected, we need partners and that other half to push things from better to awesome. Imagine brushing your teeth without toothpaste -- but my Environmental Science teacher said toothpaste is toxic so I guess I'll have to part ways with it and find safer alternatives. It doesn't have to be the romantic kind of love with (or betrayal of) someone special, as what my poem is about. It can as well be the value of teamwork, and cooperation; and if you enjoy being with your coffee, the stars, a book, pet or friend, don't they just make the moment more awesome and harmonious? 

This is the part where I get kilig.  Because I can only play right, I need my left, my complement, my other half and my harmony. Now, since you've learned what melody is to harmony and what they are to music, I urge you to listen to one of my favorite pieces (Unchained Melody) by one of my favorite composers and you'll hear what I mean (cool huh?).