When the words come, they are merely empty shells without the music. They live as they are sung, for the words are the body and the music the spirit.
Interpretation
Words and music are intertwined; words alone cannot convey true emotion without music.
This quote by Hildegard of Bingen emphasizes the profound connection between words and music, suggesting that while words provide structure, it is the music that imbues them with life and emotion. Words are compared to a physical body, while music is likened to the spirit, indicating that without the emotive power of music, words lack their true essence and vibrancy.
In practice
During a presentation on the importance of music in communication.
O, You who are ever giving life to all life, moving all creatures, root of all things, washing them clean, wiping out their mistakes, healing their wounds, You are our true life, luminous, wonderful, awakening the heart from its ancient sleep.
Every creature is a glittering, glistening mirror of Divinity.
The fire has its flame and praises God._x000D_ _x000D_ The wind blows the flame and praises God._x000D_ _x000D_ In the voice we hear the word which praises God._x000D_ _x000D_ And the word, when heard, praises God._x000D_ _x000D_ So all of creation is a song of praise to God.
There is the music of Heaven in all things.
I welcome all creatures of the world with grace.
Don't let yourself forget that God's grace rewards not only those who never slip, but also those who bend and fall. So sing! The song of rejoicing softens hard hearts. It makes tears of godly sorrow flow from them. Singing summons the Holy Spirit. Happy praises offered in simplicity and love lead the faithful to complete harmony, without discord. Don't stop singing.
Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different.
The glory of a good tale is that it is limitless and fluid; a good tale belongs to each reader in its own particular way.
And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed, And drunk the milk of Paradise.
People have always heard voices. Sometimes they're called shamans, sometimes they're called mad, and sometimes they're called fiction writers. I always feel lucky that I live in a culture where fiction writing is legal and not seen as pathology.
If you dont [sic] say what you want, what's the sense of writing?
I'd say, if you want to be an artist, start with your art; start with making great music and it will, hopefully, eventually cut through all of the nonsense that is out there.
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