In the opening book of his Narnia series, C. S. Lewis describes Aslan “singing” creation into being.
“A voice had begun to sing. It was very far away and Digory found it hard to decide from what direction it was coming. Sometimes it seemed to come from all directions at once. Sometimes he almost thought it was coming out of the earth beneath them. Its lower notes were deep enough to be the voice of the Earth herself. There were no words. There was hardly even a tune. But it was, beyond comparison, the most beautiful noise he had ever heard.”
As a science-fiction writer as well as the creator of the beloved Pevensie children, Lewis was far ahead of the conventional thinking with this musical act of creation. Scientists are now challenging the established idea that matter is solid, and are exploring the reality that matter is made up of energy, frequency and vibration. Lewis was already resonating with the idea that all matter, all creation, all substance is actually sound, and he attributed this music/energy to the Creator of All Things.
The second segment of Victor Wooten’s The Music Lesson tells us that “if you stop playing notes, there will still be music.” Last week we looked at the idea of silence as music. This week we consider the possibility that the entire universe is a collection of vibrating strings of sound.
A NOVA Program titled The Elegant Universe sheds light on the area of physics known as string theory. “According to string theory, absolutely everything in the universe—all of the particles that make up matter and forces—is comprised of tiny vibrating fundamental strings. Moreover, every one of these strings is identical. The only difference between one string and another . . . is its resonant pattern, or how it vibrates.”
From massive deep sea waves creating vibrations that resonate throughout the planet to people who sing together in choirs having their heart beats synchronize, waves of sound and energy connect us and sustain us.
In music, notes are nice, but they’re not the main thing. Energy, frequency and vibration – these are the fundamentals of sound, the building blocks of creation, the connection between the Triune Creator and the beautiful, elegant, unfathomable gift of Creation.
Sergie Rachmaninov, Vocalise
George Gershwin, Fascinating Rhythm
HI Colleen ~ So enjoyed your column this week! Any chance there will be a comprehensive and complete playlist posted somewhere on the website? Or is there one already and I just am not seeing it? Wowsa – the Wailin’ Jennys are incredible.