I’ve heard it said that only human beings have been given the gift of music; that only people create songs, sing and serenade their souls with this most magical and uplifting form of communication and communion. Yet, should we not consider the song of the lark? The haunting ballads of the whales? The mournful call of the wolf? The robin’s lyrical laugh at dawn and dusk? The crickets that serenade the nighttide? The burbles of monkeys swaying in the trees? The laughing of the hyena?
Who is to say that in their melodic tunes, caterwauls, howls, wails, and other worldly vocalizations there is not some measure of music. Why should we be the only ones to sing praise, to croon our love, and to bewail our distress? How can we know, in truth, in honesty, that the deliberate scree of the hawk, the piercing bugle of the elk, the chattering of raccoon and ferret, and the murmurings of infrasonic elephant calls is not music to their ears?
Music is a form of communication that lifts the soul, expresses emotion, and brings one being into contact with another being. If this is, indeed, the definition of music (of which it is a form) then can that being not be one other than human? Does not one wolf join another when it sings? Does not the whale song change season to season and year to year, picked up by another whale to be carried on? Does not one roaring lion inspire the entire pride by its lusty cry?
Consider what the morning would sound like without the sweet music of the birds. Contemplate what the summer night might be when not a single chirrup, trill, drone or buzz lilted through the air. Ponder how deep and lonely the oceans would be without the drifting, breathtaking songs of the whales. Can you even imagine a mountain landscape without hearing the echoing howl of a wolf or the bubbling laugh of the loon?
If these sounds, that can captivate us and uplift our thoughts, our hearts and even our souls, are not music and do not do the same for all those who hear them, regardless of race, than perhaps, we must follow that course of logic and say that cave paintings are not art, tap is not dance, improvisation is not acting and free verse is not poetry.
Or perhaps, Music Teaches the Soul what the Heart Feels and Guides the Heart with what only the Soul can Truly Know.
~Morgan~
BooknVolume 
I listened to them all at once. Seemed orchestrated for sure. At the very least a parent would love to hear their child’s tune, and maybe too all love knowing by song exactly the location of the other species.
LikeLike
that is a marvelous thought. Im so pleased you agree.
Blessings and many thanks! ~
LikeLike
The wolves are beautiful!
LikeLike
They are indeed! far too much maligned.
LikeLike
Gorgeous, thanks for posting this. It’s wonderful and I must save it.
LikeLike
🙂 Thank you so very much Erik. Im so pleased it may have blessed you..as the thought today blessed me and begged to be shared.
LikeLike
Wow! This is a great post! You are so right, and at night I love to listen to the heavening “music of the spheres.” Music is all around us and it is sung by a host of choirs. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much Natalie. I feel so blessed that you agree. The thought occurred to me today during church and could not be ignored.
Blessings~
LikeLike
I’m so glad you didn’t ignore it! Not at all surprised that the thought came while you were in church. Why else would be be implored to sing praises if song weren’t a part of all Creation. Natalie 🙂
LikeLike
Excellent post Morgan and beautifully written in a captivating style. I agree with you totally apart from “The Robin’s lyrical laugh”, but that’s only because you haven’t met my Robin, “Hubble”, he’s a miserable bugger. You mention the roar of a lion which reminded me of the last time I went to the zoo (never again, it’s too sad) which was in Slovakia and there was a panther pacing back and forth in a cage not looking very happy and then he growled and it was one of the most powerful sounds I’ve ever experienced. I felt it reverberate throughout my whole body and was moved by it, and though I doubt many people would class it as music it is if it, like what you said, moves your soul.
I’ll finish with one of my favourite quotes by Nietzsche
There was a young man of Bengal
Who went to a fancy dress ball.
He went just for fun
Dressed up as a bun,
And a dog ate him up in the hall.
ooopss wrong button, erm, 2 moments…..
“Without music, life would be a mistake” – Nietzsche
and here is another quote as way of an apology for my embarrassing limerick mistake.
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” – Aldous Huxley
LikeLike
Also if we ever come into contact with aliens (I don’t mean you and me I mean the human population) my first question wouldn’t be about gravity or black holes it would be so much more important and with the answer I would be able to tell what they are like straight away, “Let me listen to your music”
LikeLike
I love the way your mind works, Mark. And it might be very possible that you come into contact with aliens, given that you have UFO’s over your house so often ( or Sirius, depending). You are entirely right, of course, music transcends language. (and limericks!) (which was jolly, by the by).
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Sacred Touches.
LikeLike
Thank You for the most kind reblog 🙂 Blessings~
LikeLike
Morgan, I couldn’t get a good enough screen grab of your photos to do you wonderful post justice so I hope it’s okay that I substituted in one of mine of a mockingbord in my yard. Again, your post was just awesome. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
LikeLike
That is fine Natalie…each one sings its beautiful tune just as remarkably 🙂
LikeLike