The Antiphony of Our World

On my walk this morning in the cool, moist air, listening to the birds chirp and the rabbits hop around and hearing the crunch of rocks beneath my steps, it all became musical to me.  I love music and the more I sing the more I yearn to understand the mystery  and mathematics of music. I do not "read" music for I never learned the theory.  This week a musical term has crossed my mind and laptop screen that has dug into that yearning. The term is "antiphonal."

Antiphonal music means the intent of the composer is for the chorus to be split in left and right halves of equal strength and composition. Hum, split into halves of EQUAL strength! Of course, you know I am not going to write about music but instead use music and antiphonal music as a metaphor for the craziness of our world today.  Each morning I cannot wait to scan the Wall Street Journal, The Economist and The New York Times to get the sense from all three on usually the same topic or event which is made especially interesting if I, in fact, watched or witnessed the topic or event the previous day.

So what you see many times is the political bents and biases of the networks come through subtly, at times, the work of the brain trusts.  The writers are superb and style and with magical vocabularies that can, well, mislead and misguide away from the sweet spot of objectivity.  But back to antiphonal music!  We really are one large choir in our world when you stop and think about it.  We have many different sopranos, altos, tenor and basses.  We want, as humans, to blend, to enjoy the harmony and savor the sweet sound of our collective choir.  And yet, antiphony seems to reign that, most times, leads to disharmony instead of breaking the four parts into smaller groups and singing of EQUAL strength in harmony to a set of notes on a piece of paper called music.

Antiphonal music is fun to sing but requires great discipline and close linkage with the director that brings the myriad parts and pieces together to the timing of the music.  So after all is said and done, it is about leadership isn't it!  Guess you did not see that one coming in my metaphor but for me it is blatantly the issue in today's world.

I have about decided that we are in a period of our human existence where it is all but impossible to attain a pure antiphonal blend on any topic. From POTUS election to economic theory, the debt ceiling, watching bill after bill voted on in both Houses down partisan lines, etc.  What happened to the art of consensus for, to me, consensus is a great example of antiphonal music. You take parts, break them into smaller parts but find a way to blend them to a beautiful symphonic harmony that is pleasing and exciting to the ear and thus to the heart; can we not do that in our human endeavor?

As I watch the banter escalate with the POTUS campaigns, I find myself really just feeling sorry for the process and the pundits that call the play by play.  For example, whether Romney was CEO in 1999 or 2029 of Bain Capital ... WHO CARES?  I want my POTUS to be frank, open, honest, connected with ME, has a backbone, is not beholden to PACS and SUPERPACS or Grover Norquists.  I want to sing antiphonally for it is so rich and inspiring when it is done correctly. So Mr. Director / POTUS next, lead us, please!  

This day, through God's Help, find a way to establish an antiphonal sound with your family, your friends, your colleagues or even perhaps within yourself!