Music soul connection

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Western classical music lovers were smitten listening to the classical music played by Anna Kijanowska, a Polish pianist based in the USA, at the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory (KJC), Moksh on June 7.

The event, organised by KJC, started with a performance by Mayo Shimonishi, piano teacher at KJC on piano and Jesse C Tamang, a KJC student, on violin.

They performed Sonata in E minor where Tamang shared, “I played the entire Sonata for the first time and I felt good about it. These days classical music is not appreciated like it used to be in earlier days. And it is very difficult to play as well.”

After this opening act, Kijanowska took over the stage where she showed how music can be created with the influence of fluctuating emotions of human beings that are sometimes sad and sometimes happy.

She informed, “Listening to classical music increases positive and good hormones in humans and decreases the level of stress which has also been proved scientifically. Music connects us with our inner soul and also can reflect different kinds of emotions and feelings.”

Revealing that each period in history has its own significant characteristics in terms of classical music, Kijanowska also demonstrated different musical pieces invented from the 17th century to 20th century.

Besides informing the audience about classical music, she also played various musical pieces by French and Polish composers, and more. She played romantic pieces by Szymanowski in E minor, B Minor and more. Impressed with her performance, the audience applauded wholeheartedly. Suman Basnet from the audience said, “I loved the performance and it’s a great opportunity to get to listen to Western classical music which is rare in Kathmandu.”

Mariano E Abello, Director of KJC expressed, “This kind of workshop is for students and teachers of KJC and for the first time I saw students telling their parents to keep quiet during the performance. It means a lot because while performing classical music, a quiet atmosphere is essential. Also, we put together this kind of event to raise funds to provide scholarship to our students to continue their further studies abroad.”