“The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” ~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Prolific and influential eighteenth-century composer
This Mozart quote is especially relevant considering the social distancing and stay at home orders we face today. It’s easy to underestimate the power of silence. People tend to feel uneasy when there’s a pause in the flow of sound or movement. One might have the uncomfortable feeling of wanting to fill pauses with sound or worry or some sort of activity.
Artists of all kinds use the power of silence and negative (empty) space in their compositional techniques to enrich the meaning in their works. And while musicians spend hours expertly playing or singing the notes in music, they spend lifetimes perfecting the pauses between notes and appreciating the qualities of a sustained tone.
We can all learn from these artistic processes. The creative and positive use of space and silence is a soft skill that can serve everyone well whether in work or everyday life. It’s possible to experience greater balance and emphasize what’s most important. Ideas, insights, and creative solutions to problems come more easily. The experience of space and silence can give you more energy and help you get things done. You can become more focused and aware of all the things happening around you.
“I always listen to what I can leave out.” ~ Miles Davis (1926-1991) American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer
Several years ago, I attended a semi-staged production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. It’s no wonder that this opera has captivated audiences for more than 200 years. It was particularly enjoyable to experience it in an intimate setting with performers, orchestra, and action so close that it felt as if we were all part of the production.
While The Magic Flute’s overarching story speaks to the many tests we must face as we move through life, the real interpretive magic comes through reflection, awareness, and ever-deeper personal understanding of who we are as human beings. That experience doesn’t necessarily happen in the notes or dialog, but rather through the stillness that can be found in everyone’s innermost thoughts and feelings.
Mozart builds anticipation through his compositional technique to create dramatic pause, building tension and withholding resolutions. The pauses prolong the tension of the preceding buildup of tension creating a dynamic, charged silence. Silence is part of what gives the music such beauty and life.
I also recently heard an interview with Kevin Bacon where he talked about his role in a new movie. He said that early in his career, he thought the best roles were the ones with the most lines. He counted his lines to check his importance. But in the new movie, it turned out that he had very few lines. When the interviewer asked him about it, he said that he realized at some point along the way that it’s really not about the number of words, it’s more about the opportunity to “play between the lines” that’s so meaningful and rewarding.
“Space is the breath of art.” ~Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) American architect and interior designer
Silence and space provide breathing room. Just because it might appear to be empty doesn’t mean that it lacks power.
The world can be a noisy place. Consider the opportunities you have to experiment in a creative and positive way with the power of silence: drive your car without music, set your phone aside for a while, enjoy your home without music or television for a period of time, take a moment before responding to what just happened or what was said. Explore the silences between sentences.
“Music and silence combine strongly because music is done with silence, and silence is full of music.” ~ Marcel Marceau (1923-2007) French actor and mime artist
Patricia Hoy
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