Awe from Music

Which musicians and music have left you in awe?

The sound of the human voice, the pulsing of drums, a rhythmic melody — these have been staples of the human experience since the days of our earliest ancestors, and having long been sources of awe for both the listener and creator of music. — Jonah Paquette, PsyD

Setting the Stage

A huge crystal chandelier makes me think of a theater or a ballroom. It prompts my anticipation of the music that usually comes with it. The cover photo is from a recent trip to the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. I felt like I could almost hear the crytals glistening as I waited for the show to start, like music to my eyes.

Hamilton

I waited a long time to see the play, Hamilton. I was interested in seeing and hearing the modern twist on a historical retale. Although our founding fathers may have had an interesting cadence and a tremendous amount of talent, I am sure they weren’t actually talented hip-hop rappers. In Hamilton they are. The show focuses on the less told story of Alexander Hamilton in the early making of the United States of America.

I was in awe of the actual music, the message, and the mind that created it. Just like any other hip-hop rap song, I will need to hear these again to get all of the nuanced messages. I did get the gist, it was an awemazing creative production.

Thanks to the young kid that sat next to me. Perched even further on the edge of his seat with each new song, wringing his hands and tapping his fingertips together excitedly, his outward expression of awe elevated my own.

Human Connections

Sometimes when we hear a song we are reminded of a connection that is very special to us, a connection we lost, or even one we wish we had. I am in awe of artists like Jax with her song My Father, which stirs emotions and relates in some way to so many people. Another song that touches souls in a similar way, is The Christmas Shoes, by the group NewSong. Powerful messages connect people in a shared experience.

There is also a special human connection when the human creating the music is someone you know well. Three that come to mind for me are a singing classmate from nursery school through high school, my band leader uncle, and later, a violin playing student. All three were awesome musicians. My goosebumps stood a little taller each time I heard them perform their music.

When music inspires awe, those feelings stick with us. When we hear a song again we can be magically transported back in time. The time trip often includes vivid images of the people that shared the moment with us as well.

My hairdresser recently commented on a song, I love this song. It was played as my son and his wife entered thier wedding reception.

We all have at least one song that can take us somewhere special in our mind. It may only take a note or two of a meaningful song for our feelings of that moment to return. Sometimes the experience is so powerful that all of our senses are reengaged. If we close our eyes, we are there again. That is one of the awesome super-powers of music.

Awe Practice — Awe from Music

Jonah Paquette, PsyD suggests, Try setting aside time to fully immerse yourself in music. Listen to the sounds, feel the reactions in your body, notice what comes up emotionally. You might experience a feeling of awe both for the piece of music itself but also for the ways in which music has brought people together for so many epochs of our history.

Thanks for reading! I hope everyone tunes into the music that brings them feelings of awe.

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