(h/t to Marzie for giving me the phrase "intellectual chador". I thought it was Cynical Nymph, but only because I think of you as being equally awesome.)
Music is essential to the human soul**. Notice I didn't say "in my opinion". Every culture produces music, every child sings and dances, music is what we are.
So of course fundamentalism demands a restriction of music, as it demands a restriction of every joy, of every facet of humanity. Do you enjoy it? fundamentalism asks. Then it is evil. Get rid of it. Get rid of every joy, every love, every beautiful thing. Only then are you worthy.
Fuck worthy, I need a beat I can dance to. I need a chord progression that rolls my eyes back in my head, a lyric that makes me feel- anything.
So let me ask you something…are you listening to music just because the sound is pleasing to you or are you listening to it because the words are God-glorifying, worshipful, praise words, your prayer to your Savior, etc. Many times we let ourselves listen to music that is pleasing to our flesh, but is it the kind of music that God would want us to be listening to? Would you listen to it if He was listening to it with you? Is it glorifying Him or you?
Music is a powerful thing. Don’t let it get a hold of you. Be sure you control what you are listening to, and not the other way around. Music and songs will stay with you for the rest of your life. Don’t scar your minds with songs that you will later regret listening to. [emphasis mine]
If you don't let music "get a hold of you", then you aren't experiencing music. You might as well buy a large quantity of black fabric, because you've already got an intellectual chador on. Hell, you've put a chador on your soul.
I really can't imagine anything sadder.
*The damage to the nerves and joints in my hands is to severe to allow for playing an instrument seriously, but I am still a musician.
**Common usage of the word.
I wish I could take credit for coining "intellectual chador," but that was the illustrious Marzie.
ReplyDeleteThe only comment I have about the actual issue at hand here: "are you listening to music just because the sound is pleasing to you"
Yes, yes I am.
Really, isn't that the point?
ReplyDeleteMy son is a musician. He plays the trombone. Has played for about 15 years now. When that huge brass sound (whether from a symphonic piece or a Sousa march) washes over me, I am often left in tears. Other than good sex, it is the most spiritually moving experience I have found. If religion means giving that up, I'm glad I gave up religion.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't let music "get a hold of you", then you aren't experiencing music. You might as well buy a large quantity of black fabric, because you've already got an intellectual chador on. Hell, you've put a chador on your soul.
ReplyDeleteThat'll preach.
Seriously. I started writing one post last week that I had to shelve because I was turning it in to something completely different. That completely different post is going to show up later as the basis of a, "This is why I fucking love music," post.
Words fail to accurately describe it. But I'm still dumb enough to try.
My son has the musicians on his moms side. I played some my freshman and sophomore years of High School, but his mom's side still play. My girlfriend's mom plays in a band and met her husband at the rehearsals. The step-dad is a professor of music with his doctorate in Sousa. My girlfriend almost got a degree in music, but opted for the medical field because she can get a job in it.
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome. It was the inspired dialogue, for which the Comtesses are pretty darned near renowned, that did it, really.
ReplyDeleteAnd may I just add that it is my firm belief that any form of personal pleasure that is not tied to religious subservience is clearly just blasphemous?
Okay, maybe not.
Music is one of the few things that can emotionally move me any more. I've closed myself off from a lot, but I'll never purge my life of music.
ReplyDelete