In the film Begin Again, Keira Knightley’s character says, “Music is about ears not eyes.” It’s a simple reminder that music is meant to be felt and experienced. Just as we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, we should value music for its story telling. Some of today’s music is incredibly catchy and I enjoy listening to some of them. But sometimes it seems like the music industry is only interested in getting as many people to listen or watch a video, rather than carry something of emotional resonance or share an important message. It makes me appreciate the timelessness of classical music, how it lingers long after the final note.
Recently, I went to listen to La Bohème live at the theatre. It was such an amazing experience sitting there with the audience sharing this collective experience. Despite the beautiful costume and set design, it was the singing that deeply moved me. Sometimes I wonder how we would hear the music as an audience, if each person closed their eyes. Of course, some performances like musicals, ballets, and operas are inherently visual. But so much of today’s mainstream music, though not all, feels like it’s lost some of its depth, relying more on image than substance.
Listening, really listening, is something magical in itself. The silence in music is just as important as the sounds themselves. When we sit in the audience to listen to an orchestra or a band, and really listen, the music touches us all in different ways. It’s such a wonderful way of bringing people together through an experience that everyone can understand. Music is truly a universal language. In the similar experience of art, staring at a Monet piece makes me think of Debussy’s music. When we look at art or listen to music, we feel something. When eyes do matter, it is only through presentation and stage presence. Music asks us to be still, to be present, to listen and above all, to feel.
Water Lilies by Claude Monet (1917)
Tien-Jen 