What is it about the lilt of a flute or the rumble of a baritone’s voice that brings a song such height or depth? What is it about the notes that are held for double-time or longer? Or the one-note held until the phrase is sung – ending at various times due to different singers’ abilities to take a deep breath?

Whether a capella or accompanied there is a joy in singing, a purpose, a need. For most folks, Sundays are filled with songs to go with service. For commuters not caring about what other drivers think, singing along with the radio/CD/MP3 Player/cassette is a way of getting ready for the start of, or thankful for the end of another work day.

Choirs are filled with individuals who love singing, who can sing – at diverse abilities and confidence levels. Students hold concerts to bring family members and neighbors in to share and showcase talents – assuming music classes are still available in most schools and concerts can still be planned without too much interference or censorship. There are the hummers and whistlers who complete their tasks, their chores, their routines with a soundtrack that makes sense to them. And finally, there are the brave souls who sing in the shower – admitting it or not – who lift up their own spirits as troubles wash down the drain.

What would happen if we lived in a vacuum world where music was deemed unnecessary, a nuisance, a detractor? What would happen if the only sounds surrounding us weren’t of flutes, organs, guitars, voices, even birds chirping? Would we be able to accept the silence or compose something to counter it?