It’s said that anyone wanting an answer out of the Buddha has to ask three times before getting an answer. Until then, they are met with silence.
Jason Rosewell at UnSplash
Practising this makes you carefully consider your answers, although it might get you fired pretty quickly.
We are fascinated with silence; it’s virtually impossible to achieve.
But what a goal! The space between noises, notes and words seems to contain every sound–much like the shade white is said to contain every colour, and yet is simply white. But as opposed to flattening your senses, silence opens all the receptors.
In the Duo for Violin & Piano by R. Murray Schafer, we hear the forceful piano chords, the gaping silence afterwards…it’s like someone jarring silence after someone slams a door. What happened? What’s going to happen? What are you expecting?
This recording by Duo Concertante won a JUNO Award for the composer in 2011.
Timothy Steeves & Nancy Dahn – Duo Concertante
Silence defines the sound around it. It’s the absence of sound between percussive noises that decides what kind of beat you’re going to hear: raggae, funk, salsa, metal, a waltz….you name it.
Consider the breath-stopping silence in Debussy’s “L’Après-Midi d’un Faune”, which happens only 30 seconds into the music, suspending your senses in mid-air following the horn’s herald. After that there are SIX whole seconds of silence, a stretch of nothingness that is like an aural palate-cleanser.
We may shout to be heard, but silence makes more of an impression.
Well, said. Sometimes I say silence is deafening. and with this duo, it’s almost like you’re holding your breath (literally) until they begin again. Such an interesting concept. Your site is eye pleasing, colours are soothing. I like sites that doesn’t strain the eyes. It’s looks very inviting and the font and line spacing makes it easy to read. And ….I’m a fan of string instruments 😉 especially the cello! great job!
I love this! and furthermore, there’s a bit in my ‘current effort’ about silence too.