The only time I really listen to music, with my undivided attention, is when I am driving. I got a couple of new CD's for Christmas, and listened to them on a recent trip. One of them was a CD by Susan Boyle. As I listened to her sing the song I Dreamed a Dream, I noticed that I was having a physical reaction. At one point in that song, her voice opens in about four stages, on one word. She sings the word, and then opens more, and then more, and then completely like a musical instrument being engaged at full throttle. I could feel my body lifting, lifting, lifting.
It is so amazing the extent to which music can communicate. It can uplift. It can make one feel comforted, sad, happy, romantic. It can cause physical reactions---chills, tears, arms waving, applause, singing along. It can make people sway, dance, and on and on the list of possible reactions goes.
On tonight's news, there was an interesting piece on a young woman who has a deaf friend who cannot hear the music she hears. Since the hearing friend is fluent in sign language and teaches it, she made a video of a song, and communicated the feelings with her facial expressions, the sign language, the length of the moves, the body rhythm. Deaf people could watch the video and get a clear picture of what the music "sounded" like. She made music available in a new way to those for whom it had not been previously. What a gift!
Although I am not moved in the same way by rock music, I suppose it should be no surprise that those who are get swept up by the beat and the rhythm and the repetition.
I am more likely to be deeply moved by church music. A beautiful voice, or voices, lifted in song in the context of worship makes me think of the "heavenly host". I guess the truth is, since I didn't get to sing in the earthly choir, I am hoping for a place in the heavenly one! I wonder if it could possibly work that way? I hope so!
While I might be short on talent, I am very long on music appreciation!
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