It’s been the happiest sound for 50 years now. (50 years and 2 days, I know I’m late on here). I know that I’ve already commemorated The Sound of Music on here once, but it’s worth all the mentions in the world.
Although it has only been in my life for nearly 15 years, its influence feels like that of its full fifty. The story, the music, the characters, Salzburg… all of them have left an impression on me that I will carry with me every day for the rest of my life.
I suppose the “very good place to start” would be with Maria herself - the original. This charismatic woman reluctantly, yet dutifully, found her place with the von Trapps at 21, and made that place permanent at 22. Somehow, once I was old enough to realize that the von Trapps were real and Julie Andrews was amazingly the same person as Mary Poppins, I began to slowly but surely acquire every speck of information I could on Maria and her family. And it never ceases to fascinate me. I read, collected, saw, imagined, and I entertained the image I had of this family and their every day feats and adventures.
I have to show off one of my "favorite things." My mother got this for me for Christmas a while back: a signed copy of Maria von Trapp's 1972 autobiography Maria, My Own Story.
And my “very good place to start” is with my own “something good,” my mother. For my fifth birthday, she got me the movie and I remember sitting, looking at the back of the VHS case while waiting for it to start, and arguing with her over whether or not there were 8 children because I was looking at the children and Maria on the fountain in Mirabell Gardens. But we watched, I was assured that there were 7 children, and it ended. And from the moment it ended, I wanted to watch it over again. And again. And again.
And I have never ceased wanting to watch it over again.
And, of course, I’ve been brought to the most beautiful place on Earth. Besides excitement and anticipation, keeping my eyes peeled for landmarks, while I was in Salzburg I discovered an air of astonishment. It wasn’t the same sense of wonderment and curiosity that I have when I go someplace new. I was simply comfortable, in a place that has simply always been a part of me. Because in a sense, it was. I’ve been there countless times before and then, being physically there, is no different. Oh, Nonnberg? It’s up the hill, overlooking Residenzplatz where it’s been for centuries. I see it everyday. Everything is exactly where it should be, and I was where I should be. It was utterly remarkable.
Emotions ran high in two places: the first, when we got to our room at the von Trapp Villa, and second, when we were in Mondsee Cathedral. Our room was the junior suite, on the third floor, which had been the Captain and Maria’s room after their bank failed and the family moved onto the third floor. I was sitting in the window sill, facing the back of the house and it washed over me that I was there, in that house, seeing what they saw. The mountains framed the trees and lawns, and I knew that I was in the most special place on earth and my heart would always stay there.
Then, while on The Sound of Music Tour (the best 4 hours of my life, mind you), I got a little emotional while we were in Mondsee Cathedral. The magnificent grace and beauty of it all came over me and it just had to surface somehow.
Well, I’ll be honest, I love the whole thing. But I suppose I love these parts more than others. “Do-Re-Mi” evokes a little nostalgia now because it brings me back to all of those places, and some of the best orchestrations in the score make it all the more remarkable. “The Lonely Goatherd” is just a fun song to listen to and a little amusing and even when I listen to it alone, I can hear Christopher Plummer’s laugh finishing it off. “The Landler”… come on. It’s one of the most intimately charged moments in film history. The looks, their eyes. It’s just perfection. And finally, “Something Good” and “The Wedding,” they’re the climax of the whole movie’s budding romance. What you’ve waited two hours for. I love to watch the gesture I know are coming, the regal trip down the aisle. Each and every second makes my heart stop.
I unashamedly believe that they are one of the greatest couples in history. I’ll stop to let you know that I am very much aware of the true circumstances and feelings surrounding the real marriage of the von Trapps. But, that doesn’t waver my fascination with the true story, nor my romanticized hope for the movie’s version of the story. The true story’s dynamics and feelings interest me to no end. Their elements coming together and what we know about that only scratches the surface and their story is one that is ever-lasting.
We need a little Christopher Plummer appreciation… or a lot. He was easily my first crush and even now, he’s devastatingly handsome. Our Captain can melt our hearts with a wicked half smile, a small gesture of kindness, or a smart remark. Indescribable perfection.
The Lord opened a window for me to find the greatest inspiration and look up to the most beautiful and remarkable woman in my life… Julie Andrews. I can never be thankful enough for this woman. She inspires me everyday and has helped me keep going when I didn’t think I could take a step further. She is all that one can be and more and I couldn’t be happier to have her to look up to. My deep gratitude, admiration, and respect for one of the most hardworking, beautiful women we have in this world, can never be expressed. Fifty years have gone by, and I will always be indebted to Dame Julie Andrews for her portrayals of her characters and, more importantly, herself. I’d like to thank her for always being there.
I don’t know where or who I’d be without this movie, this family, or Julie Andrews. They have brought me back up when I lost all sense of keeping myself going.
Here’s a commemoration and heartfelt thank you to The Sound of Music’s fifty years.
Here’s to 50 more.
