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 Traveling Music
The German writer Jean Paul Richter once called music “the poetry of the air.” I don’t think he had air travel in mind when he said that (he died in 1825), but if he were around today I think he would agree that the spirit of exploration that compels us to fly both complements and reinforces a passion for music. Like travel, music — and all art, for that matter — enables us to experience the world in new ways, leading us to a deeper understanding of ourselves, and our fellow man. So I was very pleased to learn that this issue of Celebrated Living has a musical theme.
The American Airlines network creates musical opportunities as broad and diverse as the countries we serve. For example, fly to Brazil and you will no doubt hear samba, the form of music most commonly associated with that country. Having evolved out of the poor neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, samba’s global awareness has grown hand in hand with the popularity of the annual Carnival celebration. Brazil also has a rich folk music tradition that includes cantoria, or sung poetry, duels between rival musicians. Like American music, Brazilian music has been shaped by diverse influences from around the world — and all that diversity is on display in the large outdoor concerts held each year in American Airlines cities Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Hop an AA jet to Madrid or Barcelona, and you’ll appreciate the unique musical influence of Spain on world culture. The flamenco tradition, with its deep roots in Arabic and Spanish folk songs, has produced numerous artists of world renown. Moreover, in the early 20th century, the guitar evolved from a gypsy folk instrument to a classical staple in the hands of Spanish masters like Andrés Segovia. By demonstrating its full expressive potential, Segovia established the guitar as a concert instrument, paving the way for the countless artists — in Spain and around the world — who followed in his footsteps. Spain can also claim some of the world’s best classical opera singers, including Plácido Domingo and José Carreras, two of the famous “Three Tenors” (the late Luciano Pavarotti from Italy being the third).
Thousands of miles away, the music of India, which dates back thousands of years, is as rich and varied as the country itself. There are interesting differences between the Hindustani music of northern India, which melds Arabic and Iranian influences with Hindu traditions, and the Carnatic music of the south. Less affected by foreign influences, Carnatic music is more vocally oriented, with fewer instruments used. From a contemporary perspective, Bollywood, as the Indian film industry is known, has had a major impact on popular music. Bollywood produces hundreds of feature films each year, with spectacular song and dance numbers a trademark of the genre. In recent years, the popularity of filmi, the music of Indian cinema, has spread well beyond India’s borders.
This is obviously a small sampling of the musical opportunities created by the American Airlines network. With service to more than 40 countries, we enable you to not just see, but also hear the world like never before. We may not be “poets of the air,” but we can help make sure your trip is comfortable, fun, and has a great soundtrack, too.
Thanks for flying American Airlines.
Gerard J. Arpey
Chairman and CEO American Airlines
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