I GIVE THANKS FOR MUSIC
Hear the wind rustling through the trees; a peaceful yet
stirring sound. Chatter, laughter, angry shouts, car horns blasting and the
relentless sounds of a busy life- yet there is no ‘music’, only a cacophony of noises available to tune into.
It really is good to think about the importance of music and
song rather than just taking it for granted. Music must have entered our world
very early on as we have a natural inclination towards rhythm, sounds and
experimentation which, combined with our ability to interpret and desire to
make sense of our world, would have quickly led to recognisable music.
Music is phenomenal and the fact that it is continually developing,
pretty mind blowing. We have experienced the introduction of electronic music
which has enabled so many people to become involved in the production of song.
People who cannot play an instrument are now able to create their own tunes
from beginning to end and share their work on the internet. For me, nothing
beats live instrumentals, and the power of the traditional organ stands alone
in my book! To play in an orchestra contributing to an incredible piece of
music, or singing in a choir give a real identity and sense of purpose to you
as an individual- helping to create a wonderful whole. The concert hall is
still a place of huge positive vibrations celebrating a unified love of music
and the richness contained within every note.
There are so many musical genres and nowadays we have a
whole cross-over musical culture with even the most stand alone genre, Opera,
being drawn into Pop, Reggae and beyond. Classical/Pop, Reggae/Rock are both
good examples of the cross-over music that we have become very accustomed to;
likewise the switch within songs from one genre to another.
But what about the
purpose of music? Biblically it has always been used for praise and
‘lamentation,’ so let’s consider musical impact in daily living.
Music has always been associated with cultural and religious
identity from open expressions of rebellion- very common in Rap and general Pop
music, to associations with love, peace and meditation. Love of music
regardless of genre is a universal denominator with music often being referred
to as the universal language; beyond this life we hear of angelic realms
playing harps and singing heavenly music; the truth is that we are all affected
by music and its multiple vibrations.
As humans, we need to express ourselves. Some do it directly
through using their artistic talents whilst others of us tune into those
talents, mentally zoning in and twinning other people’s expression with our own
needs. There are times in our lives when we claim a song or piece of music for
ourselves because it has imprinted into our lives via memories. These associations
can be good or bad; relating to love, pain and sometimes a whole period of our
lives we would prefer to forget. It is good to identify the emotions roused by
music and in some instances you can use these tunes as a prompt that you
require self healing. If a song makes you feel happy that’s wonderful- these
are the tunes to play when you feel low, anxious or experiencing situations
where you need to lift your spirits. If on the other hand, certain songs cause
you to feel highly emotional, angry, upset or full of regrets, take this as an
indicator that there are still unresolved issues in your life that need
re-visiting until you have reached acceptance and developed a sense of peace.
Our lives really are wrapped in music and it definitely has
significant impact- I imagine we all have a musical timeline to refer back to
if we so choose! Music is a must. When it comes to riches one of the greatest
vaults in the world is our musical heritage, an open vault that we can dip into
any time we choose and reap the benefits.
Jaz McKenzie
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