"Classical Awakening" | Memoir | Part VI of VI | Secretary Diary

It was yet another evening working late alongside the bureau's assistant secretary, as his primary office secretary clocked out at 5:00 PM sharp. He frequently requested that I step in as his proxy office secretary during these hours. During one of these evenings, I stumbled upon the enchanting melodies of classical music.

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On this particular night, as I assisted him, the clock struck 9:00 PM, and I was eagerly anticipating the completion of his project so we could finally leave. The lateness of the hour had started to make me irritable. While he was busy in his office, I was stationed in the outer area, diligently working away. Suddenly, my attention was captured by the exquisite sounds of unfamiliar instruments.

My immediate thought was, “What is this intriguing music?”

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In my early twenties, my musical taste was firmly rooted in the tunes of Prince, Madonna, Queen, U2, Michael Jackson, and gospel music. I had yet to encounter the refined, dramatic elegance of the sounds that were now filling the office.

Driven by curiosity, I hurried to the assistant secretary’s office to learn more about this captivating music. He explained that what I was hearing was known as classical music. The particular piece that had caught my attention was “The Bells of St. Genevieve,” a composition by the French composer Marin Marais. Written in 1723, it featured the viol, violin, and harpsichord accompanied by a bass continuo. (Wikipedia)

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I couldn’t stop thinking about that moment, the way the music had pierced through the stillness of the office and awakened something in me. It was as if the notes had floated through the air like whispers from another time, brushing against my spirit with a grace I hadn’t known I needed. That night, I went home and searched on YouTube for “The Bells of St. Genevieve,” eager to hear it again without the distraction of fluorescent lights and looming deadlines. I played it softly as I prepared for bed, letting the harpsichord’s delicate rhythm lull me into a kind of reverent calm.

From that point on, I began to associate classical music with a sense of quiet power, an elegance that transcended the chaos of the workday. I started keeping a small playlist of pieces I discovered, each one a portal to a different emotional landscape. Some made me feel triumphant, others contemplative, and a few brought tears I couldn’t explain. It was a new language, one that didn’t require words to move me.

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By sheer coincidence, that same week I was introduced to classical music, I stumbled upon a remarkable film on a Saturday night: Amadeus. Although it’s a biographical film of the classical music composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, certain elements of the story are fictionalized.

As I later pursued online college courses, I explored the Renaissance music era, which served as a cornerstone for the development of classical music.

Today, I frequently tune into the Classical WETA radio station both in my car and at home.

Being an office secretary has certainly broadened my horizons, offering me a wealth of experience even in the musical arena!

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(Copyright © 2025 by Mia Z. Edwards. All rights reserved.)