Thursday, June 14, 2007

Meditations upon Music


I drove to work today in a cocoon of bliss. Twice through on a new CD, I listened to "Meditation from Thais" on violin, by a young performer who lives in my region, and whom I had the exquisite pleasure of seeing in person just two weeks ago.

Can anything, anything in the world possibly be more delightful than a beautiful Woman bringing forth beautiful music on a beautiful instrument?

As the notes rose and fell, I could see again Her dark eyes, Her dark hair; could see again Her pale, slender arms in the afternoon light; Her fingers cradling the bow, now caressing, now teasing, now striking the strings; Her body swaying, leaning into, then pulling back in the passion of the music; could see Her beautiful smile, as innocent and sweet as a child, as She concluded the performance and was enveloped in our applause.

To be so at one with music! To step beyond the point where notes on a page must awkwardly be translated as a, b, c, or g; to reach the plane where they simply are what they are, drawing forth the appropriate musical response! It is as when a learner of a language no longer must convert "leche" to "milk" or "pneuma" to "spirit/breath" in his mind, but simply sees the "new" word for what it is.

1 comment:

Chase March said...

I think music really is a universal language. Beautiful music is something that everyone can understand and feel. Too bad we cannot connect like this all the time. If we could the world would be a much better place.