For Artists By Artists

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The Secret Power of Music:  Sound, Rhythm and Silence

By Barbara Nwosu

 

 

This is an introduction to a series dedicated to the memory of a true

Master OF Music and beloved mentor

Professor Hubbard

 

The Secret Power of Music:  Sound, Rhythm and Silence

The universe can be thought of as a giant symphony of sound, with each entity represented by a unique underlying numeric property or unique sound. All things are nothing more than an expression of something numeric or harmonic. You can see God in the order and harmony of the Universe. Geometry is God himself. The universe is a musical instrument and everything in it is vibrating in tune with the larger things that contain it.

Sound

There is a connection between musical harmony and whole numbers. The sound caused by plucking a musical string depends on the length of the string. The interval of an octave is rooted in the ratio 2:1, that of the fifth in 3:2, that of the fourth in 4:3, and that of the whole tone in 9:8. By applying these ratios to lengths of a string on an instrument called a canon, or monochord, you can determine mathematically the intonation of an entire musical system. These ratios are governing forces in the cosmos as well as in sounds. The world soul is structured according to these musical ratios.

When a musical string vibrates at a fundamental frequency, it has just one wave in the string. When it vibrates at the 2nd harmonic, both the length of the string and the period of the vibration are divided by 2. When it oscillates at 34560th harmonic, the length and vibration period are divided by 34560. This is how harmonics divide space and time. The harmonics theory states that the 34560th harmonic is an especially important one in the entire universe.

Rhythm

When we do the calculations from the size of the observable universe we find that the 34560 harmonic derives the correct typical distance between galaxies. When we divide this by a further 34560 we get the typical distance between stars, then next time we get the distance between planets and so on. Eventually we get the typical distance between cells followed by the distance between the protons and neutrons within the atom. So the entire structure of the universe is calculated from this one simple principle.

Electrons occupy specific positions within the atom rather than random ones. Electrons do not randomly exist in an atom, but only at very specific levels called quanta. The positions held by electrons follows a pattern found in music. Look at the frets on a guitar or any other stringed instrument. Notice that the distances between each fret are not equal.  The farther down the string you go, the closer together the notes become. It is possible to describe the distances separating these notes with equations. This equation also describes the relative positions of the electron orbits. The structure of matter on the atomic level follows the same mathematical laws as music. The positions held by the planets in our solar system with the exception of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, also follow the musical interval.

Every major religion contains information indicating that our universe is following a musical pattern. For example, in the Jewish and Christian faiths, God is often pictured in the center of singing angels. In the East, the deity is often pictured as either singing of dancing to the creation of the universe. The Greek word for ratio is logos, which also means word or reason. The harmonious sounds that men could make, either with their instruments or their singing, were an approximation of a larger harmony that existed in the universe, also expressed by numbers. The elements of numbers are the elements of all things, and the whole heaven is a musical scale and a number. Music is number made audible. Music is man’s participation in the harmony of the universe.

There is a New Song, far superior to the Orphic myths of the pagans. The New Song is Christ, Logos Himself. It is this New Song that composed the entire creation into melodious order, and tuned into concert the discord of the elements, that the whole universe may be in harmony with it. It is Christ who arranged in harmonious order this great world and the little world of man, body and soul together. On this many-voiced instrument Man makes music to God and sings to the accompaniment of the human instrument. Music participates in the divine by praising God and partaking in the harmonious order of which God is the composer. But music’s goal is even higher because Christ is higher. There is a divine region to which music is supposed to transport man and that region is literally within the heavens. With Christianity the divine region becomes both transcendent and personal because Logos is Christ. The true goal of music is to make the transcendent perceptible. Music can be an escape from a fractured reality or mundane life experience into a higher reality.

 It’s ALL about being love and expressing the “Right Vibrational Note”.

Music can make you a better person. Music is the knowledge of spiritual modulation. When we live virtuously we are under its discipline, but when we sin we are without music. The heavens and the earth and indeed all things in them which are directed by a higher power share in the discipline of music, for the universe was founded by and is governed by music. Music is related to morality because nothing is more consistent with human nature than to be soothed by sweet modes and disturbed by their opposites. The whole of the universe is united by a musical concord for when we compare that which is coherently and harmonious joined together within our own being, with that which is coherently and harmoniously joined together in sound which gives us pleasure, we come to recognize that we ourselves are united according to the same principle of similarity.

The essence of man’s being is his striving after God which is brought to life by means of the logos, the divine in art. The profound meaning of music and its essential aim is to promote a communion, a union of man with his fellow man and with the Universe. Different musical modes have different effects on the person who hears them. The soul and the body are subject to the same laws of proportion that govern music and the cosmos itself. We are happiest when we conform to these laws because we love similarity, but hate and resent dissimilarity.

By participating in heavenly harmony, music can induce spiritual harmony in the soul. Rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul, on which they mightily fasten, imparting grace, and making the soul of him who is rightly educated graceful. It is better to control the modes of music in a city than its laws, because the modes of music have a more decisive effect on the formation of the character of citizens. The ancient Greeks were also wary of music’s power because they understood that, just as there was harmony, there was disharmony. Musical discord can distort the spirit, just as musical concordance and harmony can heal and restore the spirit, body and mind.

Once you have located “The Secret” place or core of your being, you can vibrate on an essential level to express your eternal being and reside there.  Once you are in relationship with your vibratory essence, deep cleansing can occur.  Be your note.  Enjoy your essence, master it and then flow creatively while holding your note.

Silence

The Secret Power of Music is really in the silence.  By silent meditation you get to appreciate the music within you.  In sheet music silence is indicated with a “rest”.  A rest is not a note really, but I consider it a note without a sound.  Your music never stops, find and enjoy the silence in your life that flows freely when inner peace exists

This is where I find the real “Shalom” or peace essence that is exhilarating and yet extremely safe.  I then consciously use all of my levels of “beingness” and chakra centers to attract the conscious awareness of abundance and peace.   The creative expression of understanding and knowing that nothing is ever missing or broken in the key to a happy, creative, eternal lifestyle. Organization of sound, rhythm and silence is music. 

 Have a magical musical day!