MUSIC: THE VOICE OF SOUL

Is It Under The Threat of Extinction?

Without music, life would be a mistake.

                                      -----Friedrich Nietzsche

    When lyrics are presented in a bouquet of melody, rhythm, and instruments, we get to hear the sound of life: music. Victor Hugo had said: “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” Yes, the idea of silence can only be well understood when sound is not a stranger. Sound ranges from a soft whisper to an unbearable din. Somewhere in between will be a range of sound waves that will fall in the category of music. Sound dynamics, the other name for loudness and softness and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture, also called the colour of a musical sound, are important to the piece which is produced. Based on an analysis of these elements, rests the verdict whether the piece of sound thus achieved will be labelled music or otherwise. Ludwig van Beethoven, the great musician, said:  “Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.” The highest form of human creativity is abstract philosophy; add a dimension or two to it, we will be in the world of music.

    I have a teenager niece who avoids joining us for parties. As a family, we have a strong connection with music and poetry. So whenever we are together, music flows. This niece is not keen to be with us on such occasions. Her reason, she finds our “black-and-white music” unbearable. The expression stands for the kind of music we enjoy: lyrics of the highest poetic class, melody which stirs the soul, rhythm that excites and soothes as the mood demands, in which the boundaries of where melody ends and din begins very well defined. Her idea contrasts with ours because we cannot but help relating to the appeal the sound of music has for our souls; her idea being centred on the rhythm alone. The words have no place in the exercise to attempt an assessment of the quality of what reaches one’s ears. Whether the rhythm qualifies as good enough for moving the body in what passes off for dancing in parties these days is all that is the test of acceptability. Black-and-white music, on the other hand, will be strong in poetry, emotion, melody and will also come with a soul-stirring quality. A parallel can be drawn with Test cricket. A fan of this classical form of the Gentleman’s Game will enjoy a copybook defensive stroke as much as a beautiful leg spin delivery left all alone by a technically sound batsman. This fan will scoff at an ugly cross-bat stroke even if the result is a resounding six. At the other end of the spectrum is the shortest version, the 20-over game, in which the batsman is free to be grossly crass, but one who enjoys the ability to produce brute power, is the great champion. This batsman is judged on the basis of the length of his hit, irrespective of the brutal assault on the senses of a person who swears by the technique of a hit. Music that comes in ‘hot’ packets similarly delivers an immediate dose of adrenaline which skyrockets you into a world of instant gratification. You forget such a game by the time you reach your own driveway after watching it, unlike the sight of a classical display which remains etched in the memory of those who have had the pleasure of witnessing that poetry in motion years or decades ago.

    The idea of music is under a serious threat of extinction. Lyrics of popular songs these days are such that you will feel very embarrassed if the ladies of the family are around when these vulgar, crass and utterly unimaginative jumbles of inanities are uttered. The melody is nowhere to be experienced; rhythm suitable for moving limbs and torso to being the only element that there is in plenty.  Lyrics are there to just fill in the blanks left by overpowering drums and rhythm instruments. No wonder, this is an arrangement which will make an instant impression on your mind, and as soon as you are away from this prolific display of cacophonous outpouring, you will be left with little recall of the words or the melody which touched you only minutes ago. The soul remains unmoved. It was therefore shocking to find the septuagenarian grandmother of my teenage niece supporting today’s music, and trying to appear in sync with her granddaughter. It is for this reason I feel our senses will be dulled to an extent that nothing soft, melodious and soulful will stir us. Only hard-hitting noise will impact us. We will then find it hard to agree with Martin Luther when he says: “Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.”

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