Senses

About

It is an autumn afternoon. Elegantly dressed young and old music lovers enter the golden hall. The last latecomers squeeze into their seats and the lights go down. Silence falls. Movement stops. We associate experiencing music above all with hearing. With our ears we receive sound, intonation, rhythm and dynamics. But can a true experience consist only of impressions from a single sense? We feel vibrations through our bodies. The bass rumbles in the chest, the cymbals tremble in the fingertips, and the stroke of the bow glides gently across the shoulders. We see emotions by watching the movements of the conductor and the musicians—the way they move, sway and bow, united with their instruments. A false note may leave a feeling of distaste, yet what we will remember is the scent of mum’s favourite perfume, which will forever be linked with this special moment.