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OF SOUNDS AND SILENCES

As I sit down to write on music and its relevance in our lives, the first thing I am aware of is the cacophony of various sounds around me. Seated on a bean bag with my device, trying to pen down my thoughts, I cannot but feel a tad irritable as the sounds from the […]

As I sit down to write on music and its relevance in our lives, the first thing I am aware of is the cacophony of various sounds around me. Seated on a bean bag with my device, trying to pen down my thoughts, I cannot but feel a tad irritable as the sounds from the construction site nearby intrude into my consciousness. ‘Whirr, whirr, whirr. Tap, tap, tap. Thud, thud, thud’. But having practised mindfulness through meditation for over a decade and a half, I realise that I have to stop being reactive, and quietly listen instead. 

 I had planned to write a piece about interludes. And here I am, on the verge of pushing away the very inspiration that the moment was offering me. Every sound that is threatening to interrupt my flow of thoughts is, in fact, an example of how our lives are filled with interludes. Almost all sounds around me, periodic thuds from the construction work, rhythmic rattling of the fan, and cooing of birds, consist of interplay of sounds and silences. And as annoying as they may be, I realise this cyclical play of sounds and interludes just represents the very nature of our lives. Literally and metaphorically, it brings balance to our lives.

 In music, interludes are the life breath. Pauses and silences in between melodies are the building blocks for creating the conflict-resolution cycle in music. After the momentum of a piece of music builds up to a crescendo, it is the long, pregnant pause preceding the culmination that is critical to the rush of satisfaction that comes when we hear the finale note. 

 Even when we hear people speak, it is the poignant pauses that serve to emphasise their most significant points. The obvious example that comes to mind is Martin Luther King’s famous ‘I have a dream’ speech. Filled with distinct pauses, it illustrates how the interplay of words and silence is the hallmark of great oratory.

 Whenever I have had powerful experiences in my concerts or in imparting music through teaching or demonstrations, it has been when I have shown the listener interplay between musical parts and pauses. The ‘Shadaj’ or Sa, which is often the culmination note in many Raaga presentations, usually follows after a short pause of intense anticipation. When it is finally given to the listener, one can only describe the feeling as utter bliss.

 I cannot help but notice analogies in daily life too. Starting from aspects of our anatomy like the heartbeat, menstrual cycle, and circadian rhythms such as the sleep-wake cycle, this prevalence of alternating patterns extends right up to the waxing and waning of the moon, day and night, and the seasons. The isolation resulting from Covid-19 is no exception to this. As the world hurtled towards an impulsive, fast, and self-indulgent way of life, the period of isolation post the Covid-19 outbreak ended up driving us into silence, humility and self-reflection.  I do not think beautiful music is only made up of beautiful sounds. Music that touches the soul can do so due to the interlude of silences that help us appreciate those sounds.

A steady stream of even the most beautiful melodies cannot make sense without the silences in the right places. The silences help us anticipate and appreciate the climaxes of sounds that follow. Using silences well is an essential building block to music.   Rhythm excites us for the very same reason. It is the even pauses between the beats, and the predictability of the next beat after the pause that allows us to connect with the rhythm and the minds of others listening to it. In Indian Classical taal ‘Sum’ and ‘Khaali’ do this job.  Interludes signify balance, and in this balance lies a middle path, one that holds much promise, as much in music as in life. It is in this balance that we find genuine love, peace and the true song of life!

The writer is a vocalist of Hindustani and Carnatic Classical music with over three decades’ experience. She is also the founder of Music Vruksh, a venture to make classical accessible for its aesthetic and wellness benefits.

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