Music as Energy

People of the Earth seem to have very different views of how and why we are here. There are people that say that the Earth was created for us by a higher power and we are meant to live our lives in a way that respects this higher power's authority. There are also people that believe that the Earth is a fluke, an infinitely small probability in a Universe that accounts for every possibility. Everybody else seems to fall in the middle somewhere or have no idea and like it that way! My personal belief is that energy is what binds everybody and everything. Positive and negative energy flux and flow in a constant struggle for supremacy. When people think positive thoughts and perform positive acts they introduce positive energy into the cosmos making everything better because of it. Of course the opposite is true as well and therein lies the struggle. People that think the world is more bad than good might be right at that particular moment in time but by just thinking that negative thought they are only helping to make it fact. You might be asking yourself "Where does music come into play??" "Isn't this a blog about music?!". The answer is simple: music is a source and outlet for emotional energy. Music on the whole is a source of positive energy. When people express their feelings in an artistic fashion it helps them resolve those feelings in a positive way. This in turn releases positive energy into the cosmos and everything is better because of it. Music is a way of spreading love and understanding throughout the world in a universal fashion. There are no better forms of communication than series of rhythmic and melodic progressions. Music can also be a constant recycling of negative energy into positive energy. People create music about the things that have hurt them in the past and by doing so they take those negative feelings and create something that is positive with them. Have you ever found yourself listening to the same song over and over because it really hits home with you and the way you are feeling at that moment? That's because the person was feeling the same thing as you at one point and is trying to share their experience with you in a positive manor. Music is a great examples of this theory because all music has an emotional foundation which makes it one of the best outlets for that energy.

4 Minutes 33 Seconds

This is one of my all time favorite musical compositions. It is one of the most, if not the most, literal representation of out of the box composing. It challenges not only our preconceived notions about music, but about sound in general. 4 minutes 33 seconds was written by John Cage to prove one simple point: there is no such thing as silence. It requires much more from the audience than normal classical or contemporary pieces because it forces the audience to perceive the music being made on a much more ambient level.
Usually, at least in western music, everything is given to you up front and you interpret what you are hearing as it is brought to your attention. With this piece you actually have to key into everything that is happening around you and string them together before you can interpret what you are hearing. The piece is broken up into several movements of varying lengths in which the performer sits at their instrument and waits for the 4 and a half minutes to be up. Other than sitting there turning pages the performer's role in the actual performance is minimal(and by minimal i mean non-existent).

Watch..



The music in this piece is made up of the ambient sounds that occur during the 4 minutes and 33 seconds. A shuffling of the feet, a cough, or the clearing of someone's throat are just a few musical elements that are likely to occur during the performance. Not only can this piece be performed by any instrument it can be performed in any setting: a concert hall, in your home or even outdoors. For some people it is used as a form of meditation and a reminder that music exists in a purer form than just notes on a page. It is a liberating experience that everybody should try at least once. Give this a try the next time you have a spare 4 and a half minutes and let me know what you heard.