Music

On Music

Music is the delightful meeting of two opposites, order and spontaneity. It is both mathematical and artistic; it simultaneously engages the intellect and moves the emotions. A composer does not just throw notes together and hope for the right result; rather he chooses specific notes and chord progressions that he knows will convey certain ideas and move us emotionally in certain way. He then adds the specific details that he wants to make the song unique, to convey his specific message. If he wants joyful music he’ll use major chords, while minor chords add an eerie feeling to the piece. Music has many different elements- it has a meter or beat, plus chord progressions as well as lyrics, melodies, harmonies and dynamics (changes in the speed or volume of the music).

The Three Levels of Musicality

The couple is musical by being in harmony with the music. We can see how dancing is musical by looking at how it matches the music in three “layers.” These layers move from order to spontaneity.

In the most basic layer the dancers must step on the beat, so he or she may be reliable for his or her partner. No one likes to dance with someone who is off beat!

The next layer is the genre, such as waltz or salsa. Salsa music is staccato and defined, in 4/4 time, while waltz is smooth and flowing, in 3/3 time. The patterns and stylings of the dance match up with the music. Not only does the style tell the dancers how they are supposed to look, but it also tells them many of the finer points on how they communicate in the dance. The feel of a smooth frame is very different from that of a swing frame or an Argentine Tango frame.

The final layer is the dancers need to inform their dance with the unique elements of the song. The dancers do more than follow a steady beat that matches the music. They use movements and stylings that interpret the lyrics and the melody of the song. When the music gets loud the dancers expand their frame to make it bigger. When it quiets they contract their frame. When the music speeds up they speed up and when the music slows they slow down, and when it stops they stop. If they are really good they add little minor stylings that fit with little parts of the songs, such a spontaneous snap or ping

The individual song- a unique combination of melodies, harmonies, lyrics and dynamics

The genre, such as waltz, salsa, swing, etc

Things all music has in common- i.e. tone and beat interval

The Levels of Music

The Three Levels of Spirituality

We are called to be one, just as the Father and the Son are one, and so at it’s most basic level our spirituality is meant to unite us and bring us all together into one family, the Church.

At TOD we spend a lot of time understanding the Holy Spirit through the analogy of the music of the dance. The Holy Spirit unites us to Jesus Christ. In the same way a song awakens the follower’s heart to dance the Holy Spirit awakens in us the desire for Christ and prepares us to encounter and to receive Christ in the same way that the music prepares the follower to encounter the leader of the dance. Just like music our spirituality has three layers.

At the next level is our vocation. Just as the genre tells the dancers how they will express themselves, so too our vocation tells us how we will speak and act and dress.

Each of us is a unique, un-repeated creation of our loving God. At the most spontaneous level the Holy Spirit provides the unique music for our unique dance with Christ.

The Levels of Spirituality

Our unique, individual realtionship with Christ

Our Vocation- where we find most of the "how" in our dance with Christ