MUSIC HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH!XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXAugust 27, 2009
“Sound is touch at a distance.”
Last night I saw and heard an amazing show at Jazz Alley in Seattle. Jazz trumpeter extraordinaire, Terence Blanchard, along with his unbelievable combo, took me higher… and higher… and higher… My friend and I sat right in front of the stage. The sounds filled our bodies… I could actually FEEL the deep musical vibrations altering my cells, reshuffling my brain, relaxing tight muscles, and sending my thoughts into inspired, creative places.
Music is such a mysterious and powerful force. We all know that music, on a physical level, is sound vibration. But how much have you really thought about that? That your cells are actually being touched by sound waves, which are then altering your body and brain in palpable ways — both positive and negative.
One of my favorite instances of how sound affects humans was in 1913, when Stravinsky gave his first performance of the Rite of Spring in a gorgeous, richly decorated opera house in Paris. But the human brain apparently wasn’t yet prepared for the sound vibrations that he unleashed with his orchestral masterpiece. It was not only a complete disaster as an artistic experience (Stravinsky apparently ran out in tears), but it actually created unbelievable mayhem and violence: a huge number of the gentlemen in suits and tall hats along with elegant ladies in silks and plumage, actually broke out into fisticuffs and tore the theater to shreds. Modern neurologists blame this bizarre response on the fact that the human brain cannot adapt so immediately to sound vibrations as unusual as those Stravinsky’s composition gave them.
The following year Stravinsky bravely attempted to perform the same piece again in Paris. Guess what happened? It was a massive success. The neurologists explain that the brain has the capacity to alter itself to eventually accept different sound vibrations and create order out of ‘chaos’ (in this case, dissonance), but it just takes some time to do so. Which to me, is a testament not only to the incredible ability of the human brain to re-make and re-structure itself, but also to the unbelievable power of music. And of course to the courage it takes to be a truly unique composer. Stravinsky rocks!
So back to Terence Blanchard. Every so often I will hear music that deeply alters me. My brain felt cluttered and my body tense before I went to that show (just normal life!). When the music began, it literally felt like a turbo-secretary had gone into my brain to clean up all the loose files and throw out obsolete ones. Order was restored, which left room for inspired thinking again. My body released its tension more than a massage could ever do. I felt absolutely renewed.
I feel so thankful for the sense of hearing — and also for the ability to create music. I can’t imagine a life without either.
Over-and-out!
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Check out Terence Blanchard’s music!
www.terenceblanchard.com
To listen to the VERY interesting NPR ‘Radio Lab’ broadcast about music and its effect on the brain (including the Stravinsky concert riot), click here:
http://www.prx.org/pieces/13718-radio-lab-show-202-musical-language
terrance is a fabulous musician, who really become a folk hero here in new orleans, especially after katrina, and the haunting music he wrote post K. whenever in nola, its a real treat… there are so many musicians here that have talent such as his… but he? has appeared when needed most.. music to soothe our souls… especially spike lee’s movie, “when the levee’s broke…”