Violins

Beauty creates wonder in the beholder, but is not ‘in the eye of the beholder.’ Wonder can lead to longing, even pining, that the beauty - of whatever the subject being viewed or described - is indeed authentic. Wonder can progress to hope and lead to exhilaration, or it can become nefarious and digress to skepticism and lead to despair. But beauty cannot leave the beholder unmoved. It, by its very design and elegant nature, must elicit a response of some kind. Beauty can be seen nearly everywhere, even in something as simple as symmetry. Beauty is not reducible to the construct of symmetry, but the two are inextricably linked. When one sees a beautiful painting or sculpture, smells the beauty of a vivacious rose, or hears the beauty of a melodious symphony, they know it…they do not have to be told that it is beautiful. Such is the case for me when listening to the violin as composed and conducted by musicians like Paganini, Vivaldi, and a host of others. It relaxes, soothes, scintillates the senses, tantalizes the mind, and even engages the soul. Why do you think music is so closely associated with worship? I can resonate (no pun intended) somewhat with King Saul who requested the musical talent of a gifted young shepherd boy in his courts to soothe his sentiments. There’s nothing like studying [or drifting off] to the tune of the four-stringed instrument. If I ever learn an instrument, it would be such.