Imagine being a farmer in a middle of nowhere Europe in the 18th Century. You work in the field year round. You hear the sound of nature all day long. Maybe you sing to yourself and with your co-workers. Maybe at night you gather around the fireplace and sing to the accompaniment of an instrument. Then, you go to the church on Sunday. There, you listen, and sing to the pipe organ. Your ears ring. You hear the echoes. You feel your whole body vibrate with the sound. You feel your voice resonate with the organ, the echoes, and the whole congregation. Imagine how that communal aural\/vocal experience must have affected you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imagine being a resident of Yokosuka, Japan in 1853. Your country has been isolated from the rest of the world for over 200 years. Then, American black ships land your port. Along with the military threats, you hear the military band for the first time, with its drums thundering, and the brass instruments splitting the air. Imagine the awe that must have struck you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n