Music In Words

Music infuses the room with an all encompassing sound that Magister Ludi would have appreciated as he translated the notes into numbers and formulas, but for this listener, the notes are translated into words and images.

Out from the silence the trumpets dance gingerly from note to note carrying the melody while floating above the feather pillow sound of the taut strings which in a breath pause and without warning ascend in smoke-like plumes pushing away the weakening trumpets creating a down comforter warmth.

But the trumpets refuse to take their last breath instead conserving their energy until a chosen bow reversal allows the crisp sounds to push through and recapture their dominance, remaining there until the sweet oboe vibration pierces their sound.

The oscillating reed perceived faintly at first bounces forward at an ever accelerating pace like the single horseman approaching over the horizon as a vibrating dot enlarging into a full size defined figure until it dominates the entire view.

In a snap and a blink, it is gone, the entire horizon visual expanse again exposed, but changed, the sun having moved, the shadows having shifted, the rider’s dust remaining suspended in the air as the music remains in the air with the violins and trumpets battling, the sounds of the oboe fading, the roles shifting.

From nowhere the migrant sounds from throughout the instrumental world appear to contribute their individual sounds, blending one into another until disappearing into nothingness just as the sunlight and shadows blend at dusk until darkness reigns

Only roar of the kettle drum remains traveling in deep vibrations earthquaking the walls and rippling the floor, expanding the heart, creating a mental tremor, broken only by cymbals embracing like lovers running into each other’s arms, their shared sound fading and fading.

The silence dominates once again.