How Does Tone Shape and Color our Surrounding Space?

By Catherine Decker, Philmont, NY (Lyre 2016, Hadley, MA)

And how does the tone shape and color the surrounding space, the space that as human beings, we move within, each and every day? This realm, where the tone moves within us, is an exciting and comparatively new area of exploration. This frontier asks for further research. It can be easy to fall into habits, or make assumptions of how music affects us on a soul level. Yet it is a different process to actually pay attention, to observe, and reflect on our responses to various tones and intervals.

Movement entered into with intention, the deliberate and purposeful movements of Spacial Dynamics and Eurythmy, can open vistas for how we relate to the lyre tone. When we enter the space with attentiveness, we also enter with a mood of listening. We can consciously explore how movement leads us to a place of greater receptivity to the message behind the tone itself.

In this way, the participant plays an active role in listening process. We put forth our own ego forces, and the interaction between the music and our selves becomes enriched.

By delving into this process we come into a closer relationship with the tones of the lyre, enabling us to meet the lyre tone in a new way.

Supported by the intentional movement given to us by both Eurythmy and Spacial Dynamics, we are better able to appreciate the fullness, the rich dimensions of the Being of tone as it lives both within the interiority or ourselves, as well as out into the cosmic space. With reverence, we engage with the gift of the tone, and the gift of movement and gesture as we move into the space that surrounds us.