Nicole Voyles Music in Religion. 4/21/11

You don't need to be Christian to appreciate the beauty in a Latin chant about Jesus. The music is powerful in itself. As the voices combine to create a synchronous ballad, the sharp trills of the violin play back. The deep rhythmic cello plays. The combination leading the energy of the music to choke up even the crotchetiest of old men and meanest of old women. Today in class we heard a few music pieces. Each a powerful piece in its own way. Dr. Redick made a comment that the whispering in the middle of one should be unnerving to those not raised in the similar or same faith, since the silence was placed in the middle of a powerful song. I was not raised in this religion, however I can say that I was raised in a loud household where the silence was a prize. Seven children, four dogs, two ferrets and a few loud parents does are included. A moment of silence to this day is a personal reward to me. I spend a few moments alone every day sitting on my porch before I go inside to the chaos of dogs, tv and dad. The whispers either represent or are prayers. In the moments given to each of us where silence is powerful, what can I do with mine to make them count?