Rebecca's Ramblings: Because the Whole World Claps

You're in a room, maybe it's a wedding, or a concert, or you're at church or a talent show. Someone is singing, and it is breath taking. The tune, the words, the depth and strength of the voice reverberate through the room and you are blown away. The song comes to an end, and just as a chill begins to run through your body.... what do you do?

Well, most of the world it seems, claps.

The more well loved the music, the harder, louder, stronger, and longer the clapping. The more well loved the music is, then it is accompanied by standing while clapping, and possibly even whistles, hoots and hollers.

In my church, we do not clap.

At the end of a musical number, a vocal solo, a choir or an instrumental piece, we do not clap.

We sit, quietly in our seats, and we listen, and we feel.

There are times when I wish that I could clap, stand up and hoot and holler.

But, for the most part, I treasure this odd part of us.

You see, in the moments following the end of a beautiful peace, some might be afraid of the silence. Maybe it feels awkward to think of the silence. The experience however, is any thing but silent and anything but awkward.

There is an energy, I think it must flow from the music, through the power in the sound waves. It is intense and sweet and palpable. It is real. When the music comes to an end, stop and listen, and feel it. Let it course through you. Notice the air how it is thicker and so very not still nor quiet.

It is a beautiful feeling that we miss when we have to clap.

Now something else I noticed...

... you are listening to a performance... and a new song begins. It may be a few beats, or a few measures, but early into the song you hear something familiar, and the entire audience also hears that something familiar, and right there in the very beginning of the song a wave of clapping erupts. All at once the entire room experienced the energy of the music. Whether it is a memory or a thought or feeling or just simply the power of the music, everyone felt it and fell in love with that moment in the music.

I don't know if everyone in the world claps.
I can imagine people of other cultures being more serene and reverent than Americans.

All of this random thinking comes as a tribute to the wonderful Josh Groban who I had the chance to hear live last night for the 3rd time in my life.

Even more interesting was my sound experience...

The first time was in Witchita and I sat around row 30 on the floor, right near the sound booth. This was an exquisite sound experience. Absolutely painfully beautiful.

The second time was at Starlight Ampitheater in Kansas City which has to be one of the COOLEST places to see a concert. We sat in the 8th row there (which was AWESOME) but we were on the right side very close to the speakers, which made it a little too loud on the poor little ears. Still an awesome lovely night though!

Finally, last night, at Scott Trade Center in St Louis, it was the same indoor stadium set up as my first concert, but this time we sat high in the stands and it was good. I loved every minute of it exponentially as the night went on.

Ultimately the first time was the best.

There were a couple of times when I wished as the song ended, that I could just close my eyes and feel the energy of the song linger in the silence. And, there were enough times that I was thrilled to be able to stand and clap my little heart out for a voice that I love.

So, clap if you must, and if you feel it. But, if you ever have the chance restrain yourself, close your eyes, and just listen.