In the past, I was a “fervent enthusiast” of classical music. As a homebody, I would immerse myself in the powerful waves of classical melodies whenever I had free time, thoroughly enjoying myself. My solitude during youth and the joys and sorrows of middle age were all channeled into my appreciation of classical music.
Apart from reading for academic research, listening to classical music was actually my favorite entertainment in life. I once owned hundreds of CDs of Western classical music.
Around the age of 60, I focused on working hard for my family’s livelihood and my son’s growth, leaving me neither the time nor the energy to listen to classical music anymore. I gave away all my CD collections to students and friends. If I had the chance to enjoy Western classical music, it was mostly through listening on YouTube, and even then, I often couldn’t finish an entire piece.
Yesterday, I took a photo from my balcony, capturing the still blazing sunlight of the afternoon, close to dusk. Suddenly, a fragment of Debussy’s music popped into my mind.
The special yellow light made me recall that segment of melody, which was rather faint in my memory. After searching online for a long time, I couldn’t find it. Eventually, I did find it, and it was an excellent performance version.
Upon reflection, why would a photo make me think of Debussy’s masterpiece “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun,“《牧神的午後前奏曲》(https://youtu.be/WBYzW-B1Ty4?si=2v0y-WJl8IL3kurN) which established his fame? Moreover, it’s an Impressionist work that I don’t fully understand.
As it turns out, according to color psychology, yellow is a relatively bright and high-contrast color that quickly grabs attention visually, stimulating excitement and a joyful emotional response, associating with pleasant summer memories.
So, I continued to look for other photos taken in the afternoon but not yet dusk. Then, in Debussy’s music and beautiful memories, I spent a solitary yet delightful afternoon.
