Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.”

Imagine a gym full of children, heads bowed, as quiet as the falling snow, The Last Post penetrating the silence. Imagine those students new to Canada, those with limited English skills, looking curiously around at this solemn silence. Though confused at the circumstance, the emotion was clear.

On Saturday I saw 2 Pianos 4 Hands at the Citadel. The range of emotion involved in learning to play an instrument was highlighted by the music itself: intense, uplifting, demanding, hopeful, jubilant.

It is difficult to imagine the world without music. Music can transport us to another time or place. It is used to calm, inspire and motivate. Music is entertainment. It is reverence and prayer. Music is used in celebration and as therapy. It is used to establish mood. It is a form of art and expression. Music transcends the boundaries of language.

Though I myself have limited musical talent, I am grateful for those who dedicate their lives to its creation, those whose aptitude is matched by their persistence.

“If music be the food of love, play on…” William Shakespeare.