When words fail music speaks

A very famous Danish Author, Hans Christian Andersen once said,

“Where words fail music speaks”

By nature’s own will, humans have been gifted with a voice and words and there is one and only one

way to express, i.e. by words. Though we may feel that kinesics is also a way to communicate, it

is an acquired quality.

From a tender age I wondered, what can music speak when words cannot?

In search of linguistic justification for such a statement, though never intended to find any, I

travelled time. Well, not with Doraemon’s time traveller but with the ticking clock to find the

answer.

Let me tell you, I am a person from a not so modern urban town. I grew up with parents, without a

sibling but with lots and lots of ethics and life skills. As the age-old tradition of my town, I was made

to indulge myself into different types of extra-curricular activities. The list started from recitation,

drawing, indoor sports and it went on. At first, I always took deep interest but every time

interests faded away leaving a dull look on my parents’ face. As the list built up, I got introduced to

another very fascinating subject. Yes, that is my topic, MUSIC. The list stopped here. I don’t know

how and when my interest in this art grew and eventually, like evergreen trees, it became an

integral part of my life.

As I mentioned earlier, my wonder question- What can music speak which words cannot? Initially, I

did not wonder so much about it but when this evergreen plant seated its roots deep in my heart,

these flowers of wonder pondered. Initially, I asked my guide about my question. He explained to me in

very simple language;

“It is something that comes from the heart. When you will grow up, you will understand it by

yourself”

These words meant nothing to me. I am such a fool that I went for some linguistic justification for

somethings that words cannot express. Wow! Being disheartened, I went in seclusion to learn about

it. In those coming years I tried a lot. Firstly, I thought musical proficiency is what it counts. Later, I

tried various techniques and styles just to express something which cannot be written or spoken.

This failed journey continued till I was 20, when one fine evening, while I was singing, a girl sitting

just beside me silently disburdened her tears. Don’t get me wrong. It was never my intention. I

continued to sing and she continued to cry. When I finally stopped, I gently asked her why she was

crying. She said that she didn’t know why at all tears were rolling down but she was feeling heavy

and now that those tears have rolled out, she was joyous once again. She just hugged me. And yes, I

could feel her pounding heart.

Emotions! Yes, music can trigger emotions. How? With very fine accuracy of pitch, some voice

modulation, some volume controls and my pounding heart which was keeping up to beat too in her

presence throughout time.

Emotions as abstract nouns can always be written but in the ability to make it feel, words fall apart.

Then, the role of music, drama, dance and other art forms is realised.

Even if I write a thousand lines, it wouldn’t be enough to express what music speaks when words fail.

Thus, experience good music. If tears roll down or smile reappear, know that music has spoken to

your soul and promised to become your best friend in good, bad or worse days to come.