Often a bird - Wim Mertens 

The man at the beggining makes me so happy when he smiled.

I have listened to this song hundreds of times and I STILL can't hear it without crying tears of joy of being alive

Mr. Wim Mertens, I don't know if you read your video comments on youtube, but I humbly pray that this gets to you somehow. I am but a simple music appreciator with absolutely no knowledge of how to play ANY instrument. I first heard this musical piece, 'Often a Bird' in a documentary on the golden ratio and its omnipresence in nature. I was left speechless by the sublime gravity of the music. I was extremely fascinated by the music and visualization of that clip that I searched for a few months online for its authors (I have a bad habit of not remembering the titles of the programs that I watch). Today, I finally have your name and the name of your wonderful piece. That not-so-ordinary evening, while watching and listening to that clip, I suddenly felt a spark of wonderment that I have forgotten long, long ago. It was like being a child again. Fascinated by how a bird can fly or how water can fall from the sky... It's a very precious and joyful feeling to experience the wonderment of a child, even for a few minutes. To me, that short clip with your music was very powerful because it allowed me to have realizations that can't be produced while being an obedient member of today's society. Having said all of that... I just want to express my deepest thanks for being the creator of the instrument to my ( maybe spiritual and ) uplifting experience of simply recalling childhood 'wonderment...' Brief as it was. Thank you... thank you. Humbly and sincerely, Isabela Razo, a new fan from the Philippines

Every time I hear this I feel Like everything is going to be alright.

Beethoven, Mozart and Bach, amongst others would take their hats off

I found this song when my grandfather had passed away. It gives me feelings I can't describe. Not only sadness, also joy, excitedness and willpower. I still miss the man after 5 years. But I'm at peace with it, just like he's found his eternal peace. I love what music can do to man.

9 years and this still hits like it's brand new. A masterpiece! So thankful 🙏🏻

My heart just dropped out of body and melted on the floor

Words can't describe how lovely this musical piece is

This is absolutely breathtaking. I don't have words. It's just beyond the mind. It makes me fly so high. Way beyond the logical thinking.

I didn't want to listen to this song. Now I can't get rid of it. It changed my life. Now I'm a bird.

This brings tears to my eyes, every time.... Can you imagine how beautiful the person who wrote this piece, must be inside...

How can I express my gratitude for so many years of great music. Love u Mr. Mertens

Questa canzone ha la vibrazione dell'universo intero in sé. È magnifica.

Take up high, don't be low, Spread your wings and give a go. To starlight skies of darkly blue, See the world of better view. Often birds, receive such height, Countless gems that pass from light.

I have requested that "Often a Bird" be played when my ashes are scattered.

The slow way that things are built in minimalist music gives us time to appreciate what the composer wrote on paper. We can "see" the composition creating itself before us. It is a music focused on the process rather than the final product. The process here is a little bit similar to that of "Bolèro" by Ravel. Mertens chose a simple two-chord progression in modal mood and goes by adding instruments and few melodic alterations in order to avoid monotony by the insistent repetitions. Then near the end, Mertens break the linearity on modulating briefly to return to the initial simple two-chord progression. I really love this hypnotic way that minimalistic music catches us. In certain point of his career, Philip Glass said that the did not compose "minimalistic" music but music using processes of repetition. The prove of it his wonderful "Opening" in f minor and his outstand Violin Concerto.

Can someone tell me how many people were needed for this majestic song?✨

The pianist is living every moment

The Golden Ratio Made me found this song!... it's been over a year and i remeber how hooked me on the very first Crescendo.... it's a crescendo after crescendo...

I don't know what to say. It gives me tears of joy, a breath of wind, a view of autumn, a connection with the sky, nature and all that is eternal on this Earth during the succession of life. Thank you from the deep.

it must be amazing to be one of them in the middle of creation of a masterpiece

Una de las melodías más bonitas que escuché en mi vida!! Imagino la creación del mundo!! Donde con el tiempo van surgiendo nuevas formas y especies para dar lugar a un todo!!!! Jamás me canso de escuchar esta música!!! Gracias Wim!!!

I cried like a kid..

During the course of one's lifetime, we come across but a few pieces of music which endeavour to capture the spirit of our selves in ways that cannot be described with words. This is one of those songs. Thank you Mr. Mertens. You are truly a master of your craft. I hope I am fortunate enough to one day see you perform live.

La musique de Wim Mertens m'inspire beaucoup, en général. Elle me semble être une poésie, un langage de l'âme, c'est beau, merci.

Wim Mertens, un très grand auteur compositeur interprète de nationalité Belge 🇧🇪, ce thème musical mondialement connu, employé dans divers spots publicitaires et documentaires est magnifique saisissant et bouleversant, nous l'utiliseront avec mon épouse pour notre futur mariage 🤵👰 Et bravo à l'ensemble philarmonique qui a très bien joué cette symphonie 👏

for years my morning routine isn't complete without this 💕💕

Sublime y excelso, gracias a Dios que todavía hay personas como el señor Mertens que hacen éste tipo de música...

ongelooflijk, zo vol van klankkleur en ritmische lijn die prachtig is. chapeau

..Nem encontro palavras para descrever o que sinto quando ouço. ..

We used this song for a physical Theatre piece. Absolutely stunning Mr. Mertens

I love your music Mr Wim Martens it makes me feel so complete and happy :)

We were hearing that the last days of high school and then came to my mind all the beautiful moments of this journey.

Al jarenlang hoor ik prachtige achtergrond muziek bij documentaires. Maar kon maar niet ontdekken wie of wat. Nu weet ik het. Wim, dank je.

oh! Simply fantastic!

This music awakes memories from my infant days in me. I remember my grandmother was going out with me, I was laying in a stroller and she was pushing me around the neighborhood. I remember looking at the sky and seeing all the trees and branches, the clouds, the bird noises. I remember the feeling of being in the presence of someone who loved me unconditionally. I was loved because I was breathing, because I existed, because I came into this world. I remember the days when I was about 3 years old and my grandma was telling me about life and death, and how I started to cry because I got scared. The more I write about the experience that is rendered to me when listening to this beautiful master piece, the more intense it gets and I can't put it into words anymore. Miss you grandma, you're now in the place that you told me about almost 30 years ago. I will never forget you and I hope you're ok now in heaven.

This will be the national amen of my country if i ever get one:3 Who needs words...

Sin duda una de sus mejores composiciones, te translada, te toca,... Es bellisima Cuando la escucho en verdad la siento

Been enjoying Wim Mertens for over 10 years now. Its only three of his works, but those three will stay with me until the day I die. Great music. When I listen to Struggle for pleasure late at night, I always imagine the journey of life with its ups and downs

Sublime creación, la escucho siempre me transporta a un mundo mágico felicidades Win eres un genio.

Wonderful! I would like to be there and listen live.

Música Magnífica! Conheci hoje e foi amor a primeira vista!!! / Great Music! I met him today and it was love at first sight !!! I am Brazilian.

A pure moment of music, out of time, filled with light and humanity. Thank you for this masterpiece

sublime, envolvente, maravillosa, majestuosa!!!! gracias por regalarnos esta música para deleitar la vida.

Γιού Τιουπ θά με τρελάνεις βραδιάτικα? τί υπέροχα μουσικά κομμάτια μου στέλνεις στο κινητό μου, ή μουσική μου συγκίνηση χτύπησε κόκκινο σέ ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΏ!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ne zaman sıkılsam dinliyorum her dinlediğimde daha çok zevk alıyorum. Mükkemmel resmen. Yaratıcılığımı ve diğer bürün hormonal dengemi yerine sokuyor. Süper, çok iyi, kusursuz, perfect, muazzam, master degree, incedible, insan üstü

Es como escuchar a la naturaleza.

I need a full score of this masterpiece....

Wow.. Numbers in Nature - 3 Million views. Someone who uploaded the song with pictures - 500K views The real video - 5k views Don't you think something is fucked up here ?

maestro Wim Mertens ! un placer el poder viajar a las estrellas con su música, gracias totales

Só de ouvir parece que meu coração pula pela boca

This masterpiece is a meeting point for all of us. Thank you.

1.618 must be in this song also!

Musique de l'esprit. Le genre qui te rappelles qu'on devra tous quitter ce Monde fait de rires et de pleures... Magnifique mélange de mélancolie et d'héroïsme...

This masterpiece is a gift from above! My soul rejoices and just for a moment, feels at piece again ♡

The chills 4:07- 4:23

The best song i ever heard....ever cell of my body thrill !!!!!!

One of the most beatiful songs i ever heard

la primera ves que escucho este tipo de musica....excelente

Simplesmente maravilhoso! Ao escutar parece que somos transportado para um lugar transcendental. Obrigado por produzir uma música que ressoa sons que estão além da compreensão humana, refletindo as belezas não acessíveis aos olhos mas sentidas nos corações dos que tiveram ouvidos de ouvir!

Es genial! realmente esta música me transporta, gracias!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sublime! I heard this song in a documentary about Marlon Brando, .. immediately caught my attention, this music is beautiful!

Llegué aquí por esto: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987, 1597, 2584, 4181, 6765, 10946, 17711, 28657, 46368, 75025, 121393, 196418, 317811, ... :D

Μουσική που αγγίζει την ψυχή.....!

Máxima expresión, te transporta a otra dimensión, una pena no haberlo visto nunca en directo

Listen to me, Marlon, brought me here!!!!!!!!

Valentino men’s collection run way show brought me here. So nice

Fibonacci, perfetto

This is beautiful, we created something beautiful. Congratulations to us, to me, to you!

A master piece! Thank you so much for this piece :)

Existem mais clássicos como este? me apresentem. Simplesmente fantástico.

Heard this on a TZM film. Beautiful music!

@WimMertens one of my personal favorit tracks! This story of a master piece of music and all this instruments is intense! So emotional!

Il ne se passe pas un jour sans que j'écoute 2 ou 3 des compositions de Wim Mertens ...🤩

💫💫💕💕🎵🎵 I'm in another place and time when I experience this music.

The guy 10 seconds in shows you exactly what it's all about. Why we do it. I mainly seem to remember the horrible stuff from my childhood, but the good ones are from performing.

Completamente maravilhado com essa obra prima.

Je trouve cette musique orchestrale classique sophistiquée dans sa simplicité.

Quanta beleza!

What a wonderful journey you take us on...Thank you. 💜

the part at 4:05 is breathtaking

Such an intense emotional master piece of music! It keeps me alive! and i think about my was when he died when i was 20.... Sry got tears in my eys : ( absolutly beautifull!!

Wow, what an absolutely beautiful and powerful piece of music and what a performance!!! This is music that makes me feel as though my own spirit is taking flight and if I close my eyes, I am like the bird, too, flying high above the land in my mind. Brilliant!! Mr. Mertens, you are a musical genius and your music is very well structured and highly emotive! BRAVO!! ~Jackie

Le mystère de la création artistique mis en lumière ici. Mertens associe parfaitement la tradition symphonique, mélodique et nostalgique européenne et le rythme obsédant (toute son œuvre), quasi hystérique parfois ; c'est en ce sens "très rock" du Mertens ^^. Mais Dieu que c'est beau ...

Simplemente maravillosa interpretación !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

great piece!!! the perfection of simplicity...

Cuando uno regresa a su esencia wim mertens you make me fly thanks a lot 🌷✨✨🌈🌈💕🙏💐🌸💮🌼💖🌹

I find "Often a Bird" to be a Symphony, I often find to be quite beautiful!

Took me while to finally find it after 4 yrs and the clip by vanity fair showing Marlon Brandon talk about a few things of his life and career was fitting with this soundtrack…..

Inesquecível! Parabéns! Abraços do Brasil!

Golden spiral brought me here... good to hear

Música que enleva! Esplêndida!❤💕❤

the sheer beauty of this piece could bring one to tears in a moment of frail

Lost and Loneliness into this World, this Music brings a Relief!

it grabs hold of your every sense throwing you higher and higher gliding as if peter pan rising above the clouds to witness a beeautiful full moon awesome thanks for the ride guys been meditating to this for 3 years now and loving it every time im feeling down bam go for a ride sweet check

Beautiful how it starts...goes directly to your emotions 😭😭😭😭

Es muy interesante su música. No lo conocía. Me gusta!!

Amo muito esta música!

This is world class.