Music. What does music convey? What does it do? What does it tell? Why did God create music? What is the meaning of music? What would the world be like without music? Music is so different from everything else in this universe God has created. Within music, there are thousands of styles and sounds each giving a different message. There is a wide variety between wooden instruments, human vocal cords, and computer-generated sounds. For example, think of the complexity of the piano. How is it that a big wooden box makes such a beautiful sound? How can the simple plucking, stroking, or hitting of one or many strings create a realm of communication? Pause your reading and think of the hundreds of instruments that each make a distinct sound. Then praise God that He has made music part of life. How different life would be without it!
Language is the obvious primary mode of communication, however, after language, what is second on your list? Maybe its actions and sign language, or its facial expressions, but where is music on that list? Music is a form of communication just as language is. Do we ignore language? Or do we let it teach us something new? Through words, we better understand one another and discover truths about God, ourselves, and the world we live in. We can read language in books or speak it to one another. Whichever way we use or experience language we are in control of deciding whether we just mindlessly chatter and hear or if we allow words to educate and encourage us to live a life more worth living.
Every song, every piece of music has meaning. Some songs have lyrics and some do not, but with or without lyrics all music conveys meaning. Why would God give music to us if he didn’t have a divine purpose for it? Some songs communicate a single emotion, others take you on a roller coaster of consecutive feelings, others paint a single scene, or tell a complex story. Not everyone sees, imagines, or feels the same thing with every piece of music. Some people see more in a piece than others since not everyone has opened their heart and mind to experience the world of music. There is no single correct way to experience music, however, as long as you are discovering something new, whether that’s love, beauty, truth, or something beyond, you have experienced music.
The real question is: what is music going to be to you? Will you allow it to take on meaning and purpose in your life? Or serve as background noise. There is a time and place for both, but always keep sight of the true and unique beauty of music. I believe it is our choice to decide whether we will passively absorb music or discover beauty and meaning in it. God created the unique realm of music for a purpose, will you search for that purpose in your life? What will you do with the music in your life? Will you open the doors to a new world? I encourage you to try listening to a new style of music or try a favorite song again and let the music tell you the story, paint the picture, guide you to the truth, or lead you to God.
By Elisabeth Halberstadt ‘27, Rising Faith Editor
27ehalberstadt@montroseschool.org
