Home Music Collection

Music has a special place in my life and in my family. My parents, hard-working people, conceived music as a balm for existence. And that is how my brother and I grew up, amidst melodies that still accompany us and remind us of the beauty of being.

In my upbringing I grew up valuing all kinds of music, without borders, however my parents also invited us to listen to Venezuelan music where stories are told and atmospheres of our land are described. It was there where I loved one of our most important music representatives: Simón Díaz. A simple and charismatic man who knew how to transmit in his music our feelings, our people, agricultural activities, vocabulary and passions. During his lifetime he received many awards, including a Grammy.

This inclination to music led me to attend several concerts of renowned artists; among the most memorable I remember Julio Iglesias, in the city of Maracaibo, when he interpreted our Venezuelan icon song "Caballo viejo" which has been interpreted by many artists in the world. I was also delighted with Ricardo Montaner, with his powerful voice singing "La pequeña Venecia" which says: "donde mi querencia llega al borde...". The song Caballo viejo, if you have not heard it, I invite you to do so, and the mention of mi querencia in Ricardo Montaner's mouth, are lyrics of our great Simón Díaz, also known as Tío Simón: "Mi querencia". The magnificent artists, Iglesias and Montaner, proudly show the world the compositions of Tío Simón, as he was affectionately called.

When I decided with my husband to form our home and I was taking my things to move house, my mother surprised me by giving me her collection of classical and Venezuelan music, which we listened to so much at home, including the cassettes of Simón Díaz. Moved to bring to my new home part of my life, I thanked my mother and promised to fill my children with the good feelings that inspired by the music we could experience in the day to day in the maternal home... and even in the walks, because even in the car we were listening and singing. She also gave me a sound system to play the cassettes and today we enjoy in my home, with my teenage children, these beautiful melodies that will probably accompany them, like me, throughout their lives and their memories.

My cousins, who lived close to my parents and emigrated to another country, have affectionately confessed to my mother that when they listen to the music she played at home, they are filled with nostalgia and always remember us. This brings to my mind the lyrics of the song I mentioned, mi querencia by Simón Díaz, which goes like this: "Si mi querencia es el monte y la flor de araguaney, como no quieres que tenga, como no quieres que tenga, tantas ganas de volver".

Thank you for proposing this beautiful contest theme, it touched my heart to remember so many experiences.

All photos were taken with my cell phone and are my property.