Music is Life
A Constant Metaphor
I’m consistently awed and inspired by the human condition reflected in the experience and matter of the world outside of us. The cells within the human body are as prolific as the stars in the universe, neurons to galaxies, the shapes and patterns that repeat themselves across all nature are numerous and fascinating.
One of our greatest gifts in this life is music. This phenomenon of concerted sound and its seemingly supernatural power is undeniable. With the right notes or chords, you can evoke sadness, fear, happiness, longing - all without words. Rhythm is ingrained in us and can compel us to move with it. From the cradle, we are affected. If you have a proclivity for singing, you’ve likely experienced the satisfaction and elation of harmonizing. If you play an instrument, you’ve had a similar experience while playing with other instruments. It’s a powerful sensation, even to the listener, but more so when you are participating.
Depending on our culture, we learn which sounds are scary or brooding and which are lively and bright. These sounds and vibrations are stolen from the world around us and then recreated and repurposed with instruments and voices. They are an integral part of our everyday lives in Western culture. It is in the television and films we watch, on our radios, and always playing in the background, where you shop or eat. It is the backdrop of most weddings and funerals. A song can be an entire journey or a single expression.
Imagine watching a movie without music to build suspense or intensify the startling moments. Imagine no sad songs to console you after a heartbreak. A parade without the sound of a marching band. Music helps amplify and transmit the energy of a moment.
There is a clear parallel between life and music composition to me. Each needs many vibrations and notes to make it full and complete. The sadness and the triumph, the ebb and flow. Every chord and beat is a piece of the larger whole. What a bland world it would be if there were nothing but upbeat melodies. What a tragedy with only melancholy sounds and slow tempos. What a strain if only hard and heavy music existed. We need the bouquet of sound and experience to make good music. The same, too, for a life.
As a multi instrumentalist and multi decades musician, I gotta say, music is one of the few things in life that can unify absent any other interaction. Even more astounding though is how rhythm sped up becomes tone and simple polyrhythms like 4:3 or 5:4 when sped up becomes tone major chords meaning the intervals are naturally harmonic at both levels, but if you then reduce the wavelength to visible light frequencies while keeping the same intervals, you get complimentary colors, Adam Neeley gave a TED talk on the subject. I’ll see if I can dig up a link when I get off work, it’s super interesting stuff.
I'm just a fan of music. Listening has always played such a huge role in my life. Great piece.