Music Is Like Life

By Pat McNutt, Interim Director of Music
Community UMC of Half Moon Bay
[Communique, December 2006]

When you are in church and music is happening, what do you do? Do you listen? Do you think about what you had for breakfast? Do you look to see what the singers are wearing? Perhaps you notice that the organist / pianist / harpist looks a little sad today.

Listening to music closely and carefully takes mindfulness: this means that your mind should be centered on the music, shutting out everything else around you. The ability music has to fill us up is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. Those who play or sing music know the power it has to absorb our beings, and listeners can experience this also.

What can you listen for? You can listen for volume, and notice the contrast in volume. If the music has lyrics, can you understand the words? When the choir is singing you can listen for texture, i.e., layers of sound in high, low, or mid ranges. But mostly, is the music moving you? Do the people presenting the music seem engaged and interested in what they are doing? Are they feeling the message the music is presenting?

As listeners, how the music makes us feel is important. Let it enter your heart. Ask yourself what feelings are being stirred. Music is like life in that it contains moods and feelings, whether they are dissonant or consonant. If we only heard happy music, or if we only heard solemn music, we would be deprived of exploring all of our emotions.

And finally, should you applaud when the music is finished? Big, big question when we are in church. If you applaud because you feel obligated, I would advise no, do not applaud. If you simply cannot help yourself, and in exuberance and thanksgiving you must applaud, then by all means go right ahead! Is there any alternative appropriate response? I think so. When the music is finished, let the resonance of the sounds and the feelings aroused by the sounds fill your soul with thanksgiving. Sit and rest in the beauty of the moment and assimilate the nourishment you have received.