Life without Music

Life without music would be very difficult to bear. Most of us need music every day for sanity’s sake, as well as fundamental enjoyment. And there is also something freeing about music. Music frees my soul for daydreaming flight. As I have written: “Seemingly trapped, he somehow escaped into a melody. And there he is, joyous in its moods and flights of fantasy.”

The longest I have ever gone without music was during boot camp in the Marine Corps. Twelve weeks at Paris Island without music, while training to kill or be killed for our country. After we graduated, we went to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for advanced infantry training. During the second week, someone found a little portable radio. Twenty or so of us hovered around that radio, transfixed by the music it belted out. While the music played, we became our civilian selves again; we entered a better place, far away from war’s woeful worries.

I believe we are all born with a singular song in our hearts, much like the uniqueness of our voices or fingerprints. It is for us to sing our song; no one else can sing the song of our souls for us. If our song gets crushed, meaning our soul-life suffers rejection or desecration, we can croon with Peggy Lee in her classic song, “Look what they’ve done to my song, Mom, look what they’ve done to my song.” Our song lives in us, even if we cannot carry a tune.

I tell people that all of us will be able to carry a tune in heaven, or it would be more a hell than a heaven. However you understand God, music is of God; music comes from whatever and wherever heaven is. Scripture says heaven is full of music, and that once there we will learn a new song, one we cannot sing here.

Musical compositions, from symphonies to simple songs, come to composers. Music presents itself, whether as an immediate whole or as something drawn out over time. The composer Mozart heard music and wrote down what he heard, rarely editing or modifying what he received as a sheer gift. Wagner awoke from a nap by a fireplace and a whole opera began coming to and through him. Where does such music come from? As Nietzsche said concerning composing words: “When it comes, you don’t ask from where, you just take it.”

The therapeutic dimension of music has been known for thousands of years. As the ancient philosopher Plato said, “Music can soothe the savage beast.” Music can help move us through negative emotional states and stages. Like humor, music can propel us to a better place, even if only temporarily.

Music is fundamentally relational and communal; it creates community and harmony. Like praying together, it is difficult to remain angry at someone with whom you are doing music. Music is shared; it is the common between persons, the audience as well as the musicians. As I wrote about music:

“Music gives voice to the heart. Through it, the heart speaks to itself in a language beyond translation. And where music reaches, reason cannot follow.

Music never lies. And its truths are never complete. When you seek music, you seek your freedom. For music is your winged self calling unto you.”

Music is a heart to heart medium. In music we experience a real freedom. Though remaining earthbound, we can soar in spirit through singing, listening to, letting the promising voice of our winged self.