Music

This probably isn't starting like a post about religion. I'm a big music nut, and a big big orchestral music nut. And I'm a big, big, big (big) John Williams fan. Most people will know John Williams for his orchestral film scores (Star Wars, Jaws, E.T., Indiana Jones, Harry Potter - not a bad resume, and that's probably less than 1/40th of it) but he's been equally involved in orchestral music outside of film music, and whilst he's not as well known for it, he's equally proficient.

One of my favourite non-film pieces by John Williams is the simply magnificent 'Call of the Champions'; written for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The premiere was performed by the excellent Mormon Tabernacle Choir (Mormonism not the subject of this post, but an interesting fact nonetheless) and, I believe, the Utah Symphony Orchestra. I'm posting a link to the piece below which, although unfortunately not quite the best performance (and without the trademark Tabernacle sound, as a different choir is singing), is probably the best recording on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGixEmzsQx4

Now, to get this post on track. I often hear people describe music as almost evidence for divinity and proof there must be a God. Let's face it; music is powerful, beyond comprehension. Whether it's Jazz or Rock, Metal or Electronica, a good piece of music in any style has the power to change people. A bad day can often be turned around by the right music. A difficult time can be processed, analysed and made bearable with soothing, introverted songs or favourite pieces.

But furthermore, music goes beyond language, some might say deeper (I certainly would). What's fascinating about music is how primal it is. You could play a powerful piece of music to anybody, from anywhere, with any background or cultural affiliation, and yet it can still move them to their very core. There's precious little in the world with that kind of raw energy.

Of course, this ability to move and emote beyond conscious or understanding has brought many people to the conclusion that it must be divine. I once read an interesting quote from the the Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) which read as follows:

For me an unforgettable experience was the Bach concert that Leonard Bernstein conducted in Munich after the sudden death of Karl Richter. I was sitting next to the Lutheran Bishop Hanselmann. When the last note of one of the great Thomas-Kantor-Cantatas triumphantly faded away, we looked at each other spontaneously and right then we said: "Anyone who has heard this, knows that the faith is true."

Interestingly Pope Benedict doesn't find faith in rock music, or in pop music. It presents an interesting conundrum to me: does he believe music is divine, or that only some music is divine? And, if some music is human in construction and composition, then couldn't all music be that way created?

I posted the John Williams piece to illustrate a point. To me that music is the closest to divinely inspired I can imagine. It soars triumphantly and joyously, in a sort of ecstasy; a pure celebration of what it is to live and understand and be a part of something bigger. In my more introverted, private moments that music has quite literally lifted my heart and soul; inspired and excited me, made me believe that anything is possible.

But do I believe God gave me that music through John Williams? No I do not. And not simply because I do not believe in God. At this point it's interesting to reflect on what 'Call of the Champions' is about; the human spirit. Written for the Olympics it's aim was to embody the challenges of humanity, and our response to it. Atheltics is of course a revered microcosm of the struggles and triumphs we face as individual and collective humans. Athletes dedicate and push themselves to the edge of their powers in the pursuit of purity and achievement in their field. This music, to me, evokes just that, and the inspiration and hope we can all derive from that.

So, what am I trying to say? Well, I believe, like the athletes his music celebrates, John Williams has also very humanly struggled and worked to bring us this wonderful piece of music. To call music divine is, in my opinion, a completely missed chance to recognise it is us as humans which we should celebrate and revel in. If God is behind all that is good then humans are nothing more than puppets; vessels to deliver this brilliance to each other.

But if we believe that we are indeed the one's producing magical, spiritual, hopeful music, that's an endlessly optimistic belief. Whether it's Bach or Beethoven, Mozart or Michael Jackson, NWA or Radiohead, it is humanity alone that reaches these heights; and we can take that to be a mere glimpse of what we could be capable of in other fields.

Next time you hear a piece of music consider it as a human construct; if indeed we as a species can produce work of this power, what else could we do in the firm belief that we have control of our own destiny? Next time the music consumes you with hope and desire and inspiration don't merely thank God, but thank the human that created it. And learn from them; go and create something positive yourself, and live happily in the knowledge that you may just have done it all by yourself...