I’ve been thinking a lot about sound. Sound creates an atmosphere and the sounds we make or are made around us create that atmosphere. I remember back in high school hearing about the effect of sound on plants. Numerous studies were done experimenting with exposing plants to various genres of music. At the time, the big emphasis was how heavy rock music caused the plants to die while classical music caused them to flourish.
This past weekend, I had a conversation with friends who are reading about the affect of sound, especially music, on the physical body as well as mental activity. They talked about how certain sounds cause irritation and aggravation. Concerning music, it’s not just a question of musical preference. People, like plants, truly respond to sound, rhythm, etc.
The idea that, “Music soothes the savage beast” is not just an idea. You know as well as I do that playing certain kinds of music can calm your anxieties. The Bible records that King Saul had a bad temper and was frequently challenged by insecurity and anxieties. He was very aware of the affect of music on his soul and would call for David, who later became king, to play the harp for him. The “spirit of the music” calmed him.
There used to be a commercial, for what I don’t remember, but the key line was “The sounds of love don’t just happen, you have to make them.” Love has a sound. We create the atmosphere of love, joy, peace, etc., by the sounds we make, not just the words we say. The words, of course, are important, but how we say them and our motive for saying them make a difference.
This Sunday, one of our faculty artists is giving a free concert at our Master Works Theatre. “Beethoven by Belcher” (Dr. Deborah Belcher) will be music that will create an atmosphere. Dr. Belcher is passionate about Beethoven’s music and her motive of love for the music and sharing it with her audience will touch our hearts. The concert begins at 3:00. Please arrive early as the seating is limited.
May you notice and enjoy the sounds around you today.
May you make sounds of love, joy and peace.
Joann