Music is the Ultimate Emotional Trigger

Nothing moves me like music. 

I grew up watching girlfriends of mine cry at the drop of a hat and tended to think they were a bit over the top in dramatics.  Somehow I learned to suck it up early in life.  One time I can remember in particular--where everyone would've understood a good cry--was when I was about 12.  I accidentally batted a softball down into the sewer, and four of us girls lifted a manhole cover off with a crowbar to get it.  When we went to put the manhole cover back, I had a foot out too far and dropped it on my big toe--ooouuuccchhh!!!  Even then, I was reeling in pain, but managed to hop into the house away from the other kids before I would allow myself to cry, and still it was really more of a whimper...  

I think I was so good at sucking it up that it took my folks until the next day to think maybe we should get me to the hospital. When the doctor took an x-ray, it showed my toe had been broken into seven pieces...BUM.MER--that was it for track season!

Anyway, I have probably always had more of a logic-based than emotion-based personality...this is not to say I don't care about whatever the situation may be.  I am just more of an acknowledge the sadness, pray for God's peace and try to move on from it-type rather than a long-time wallower-type person.  When something not-so-pleasant happens, I will jokingly say to my husband, "Okay, let's allow five minutes of wallowing and then move on!"

That said--I've noticed over my life, however, that well-written, beautifully-performed music can bring me to my knees...

Sure, there have been moments when a well-matched music bed to a particularly emotion-packed scene in a movie has moved me to an over-the-top amount of tear-drowning.  I figure this is when I must be catching up from those moments in life where I've appeared to be strong and in control of my emotions!  I just needed a good cry. 

I also come from a family of musicians, so that might play a role in my emotional connection.  My dad was the youngest clarinetist in the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, paid his way through college teaching clarinet lessons, earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in music, still gives clarinet performances at church, plays in orchestra pits for musicals, etc.  My oldest brother is a top-notch guitarist (currently in Blue House and the Rent-to-Own Horns), and has always been the type who could pick up an instrument, figure it out and start paying something on it in a matter of minutes. My middle brother played trumpet and piano growing up, and my mom played piano and sang, so there was always music around, and these are warm memories of mine from childhood.

But even just a well-done musical performance by someone I've never seen or heard--with nothing but the storyteller's facial expressions and the musical journey they're taking me on--can move me to tears. What is that about?!

I was reading The Science Of Music - Why Do Songs In A Minor Key Sound Sad? from NME Blog and found this explanation to be of interest:

"Let’s look at the nuts and bolts of sound. Tempo is obviously important. A simple minor chord (with three notes, also known as a ‘triad’) also uses a middle note that is closer to the tonic as compared to a major triad. Take for example the C triad chord (C, E, and G); in the minor version the middle note is E flat (closer to C) whereas in the major version we hear natural E (further away from C). The tonic (C) is the strongest note and draws more of our attention, so minor chords like this trigger more sensory dissonance, a kind of tension that stems from the clashing of closely spaced frequencies."

As a logic-based person, this dry scientific explanation as to what triggers emotion-based reactions is somewhat comical yet comforting to me.  Could it be some mathematical formula is dictating my emotions?  What complex AND simple creatures we can be! 

If you're like me, I'll bet the next time some musical performance moves you to tears, you'll be wondering about and maybe even checking on this major-minor key thing!

I would be remiss in writing anything about music without mentioning a wonderful organization to which I belong, and which has been a terrific outlet for me to scratch that entertainer itch I get on occasion!  Sweet Adelines International is a worldwide organization of female singers committed to advancing the barbershop artform of four-part a cappella harmony through education, competition and performance.  

This ain't yer grandma's barbershop...the singing and dancing members of the Acappella Omaha chapter--to which I'm proud to belong--call it "Glee for grown-ups"!  It's great fun, and yes, I can still be moved to tears on the musical delivery side of performances as well--especially when I see tears welling up in the eyes of our director, who has a beautifully expressive face--so I really have to work at going to the edge of the cliff without jumping off! 

If you're a female in the Omaha, Nebraska area who loves to sing, Acappella Omaha offers a great opportunity to strut your stuff!  The chorus rehearses Mondays, 7:00 PM in the Presbyterian Church of the Master, 10710 Corby Circle (just three blocks south of Maple) in Omaha, Nebraska. Visitors are welcome!  Call (402) 932-0155.  

Today's Quote: 
"I don't sing because I'm happy; I'm happy because I sing."   
-- William James