COLUMN: Music's Tragic Silencing

From Sonja Stumacher's "Fragments of the Sun," Fall '95 From Sonja Stumacher's "Fragments of the Sun," Fall '95The applause broke about me with the hushed roar of faraway tumbling water. I stood with the rise of the crowd, bringing my open palms together as the rushing burst of our cheer resounded down the length of the concert hall. Later that same evening, with the final chords of the symphony echoing in my ears, I thought of how for a moment during the performance I had managed to lose myself somewhere in the thicket of notes weaving themselves into a musical tapestry. I was struck again by the power of music, of self expression, of art. The core strength of an artistic gesture depends upon the degree to which we invest ourselves into the experience, the ability we have to surrender ourselves to the one element of our existence which makes us truly human: The power to create. To get at the root of a piece of art or a musical composition and to discover its importance for the individual, one almost has to humble oneself, to temporarily cast aside one's own ego and become an alert creature whose sole intent is to absorb through the senses. A balance must be struck, a resting point somewhere between the ability to let go of oneself and to cling to one's presence. In such a way, the process of internalizing, interpreting and contributing to art mirrors the process of internalizing, interpreting and contributing to life. The one is simply a metaphorical expression for the other. The beauty of such a metaphor is its ability to reach a place underneath the surface, a facet of consciousness that would dwell otherwise untouched by mere everyday experience. Unfortunately, the immeasurable depth of experience created by the presence of the arts has been largely unacknowledged by society in general. The added dimension brought about by virtually all forms of creative self expression has been forced into the shadow of a much greater fear of future financial success, a success not guaranteed by artistic endeavors. The value of the arts has plummeted in the public eye. We live in the "real" world, a term which has come to mean a world in which the prospect of material gain has overtaken the need for the aesthetic. The power of monetary reward certainly has strength enough to push the arts out of the circle of "essential" elements of life. Art has become a business. I do not mean to suggest that it should be otherwise. My intent here is to reveal the fact that the arts have been diminished to such an extent as to render them almost unrecognizable. Self-expression is about adding depth to life, about reaching people and about reinforcing the creator. In an ideal world, financial concerns would play a secondary role to the universal message of art. Yet, the message behind art is no longer an issue; the focus has been shifted to the question of the actual future survival of the arts. The arts are in danger of drowning as musicians, painters, actors, dancers and whole communities struggle day to day merely to stay afloat. Society has to decide just how crucial artistic expression is in order to determine the necessity of its existence. Recent proposals suggest that the arts are not as vital as I and some others find them to be. The National Endowment for the Arts faces new propositions calling for a major reduction in federal support of the arts, a suggestion forwarded following the recent Republican revolution. If these budget cuts are approved, the question arises as to whether or not there would be enough private support to make up for the loss in funding. And according to correspondents in the Research Department of the NEA, the answer seems to be no. These proposed reductions have not been accepted at this point. Yet one thing is certain: There is little if any evidence of a healthy debate in support of the arts. Americans have revealed their overall indifference where the arts are concerned. I am aware that there do exist people in our society who feel strongly about the arts and who show steadfast support of creative expression. But I am sure you will agree that people who feel this way are without a doubt an exception to the rule. The vast majority of our culture concerns itself less and less with aspects of life that lend little if any to economic success. The fact remains that art offers a gift far more valuable than financial stability: Art feeds your soul and creates a passageway into the chambers of another mind. The arts do not have to exist unsupported. Calls and letters addressed to state legislators are tallied and taken into account. Your voices will be heard if you wish them to be. You may have to stray off the path of future financial success, of guaranteed high wages, of solidly built resumes or of the perfect unpaid internships. There is something refreshing about pausing along the side of the road to realize that the journey is not really about cutting down the odds. Maybe there are a few diversions along the way that need your attention. I am baffled that we have permitted the arts to sink to the bottom of our list of essentials. Does this assessment rest easily within your set of priorities? Certainly not within mine. The music of others can touch our lives in a way nothing else has. So many new dimensions are created by attending concerts, art exhibits, museums, plays and performances of almost any type. We all share in the ability to stop what we're doing, to stop and listen. It is more than worth our time to stand and applaud the splendor of artistic expression.