The other day, I came across the most moving video that I’ve seen in a long time. It’s called the Virtual Choir from Eric Whitacre, and the premise is simple: One man pulls together over 17,000 separate voices from 129 different countries in one single piece of music.
Here’s their Virtual Choir 6:
When I heard the voices blending, melding, lifting each other up in song and harmony, I couldn’t hold the tears back. “This is how it’s supposed to be!” I said to myself. “This is what Life is all about.”
As I listened to the voices from every continent on the globe, I couldn’t help but make the correlation to how our lives twine together in other ways to create a grand symphony. Each voice has its own pitch, its own notes, its own individual characteristics. None of the voices are perfect on their own. They each have words to sing and a role to play, and on their own they might be lovely, but when each is blended with thousands upon thousands of others, it’s simply magical. At the same time, if any individual voice were to be missing, the collective whole would suffer.
(I bet you can see where I’m going with this…??)
Diversity is critical in a symphony.
If everyone were playing the same note at the same time in the same key on the same instrument, the song would have no depth. The interest and richness of the music comes from the variety of the instruments and the notes they’re playing in harmony with each other. The tuba doesn’t try to play the flute’s part, and the flute doesn’t try to imitate the cymbals. All are needed in different ways at different times.
I’ve heard it said that if two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary. That is so true in the world of music! We need different instruments. We need diversity. We need variety. AND we need to be working from the same sheet of music so we can align our work with our neighbors’. Musicians and singers don’t work against each other. It’s not a competition. Instead, they come alongside one another to work together to a common end. Yes, they may have different instruments and parts to play, but they’re playing the same song.
One of the most beautiful things about music is that it is not about perfection.
What would perfection be in music anyway? So what if people play the right note at the right time, but there’s no emotion or personality to it! It would be boring. That’s why we love to hear our favorite bands and singers perform live, so we can share in the moment and the emotion with them. It doesn’t matter if a note is played a split second late, or the singer adds a word or two. We connect to the music because of the feeling the musician or singer brings to the notes. And when two, three, a hundred, a thousand people can hear what everyone else is saying and align their music with it, it’s overwhelming in its emotion.
So… what if we applied this to our everyday world? Imagine what would happen if we started thinking of ourselves as co-musicians playing the same symphony in a Global Symphony… What would shift?
Right now, it kind of feels like the tune is in a bit of a transition. In music, this is called a bridge, a part that brings two parts of the song together. We’re struggling a bit to find the right key, and to play our notes at the correct time. Some of us may even feel like we’re being asked to set down our cellos to pick up the flute instead, and that can feel uncomfortable. But if we give ourselves time, and we listen to what everyone else is playing, we will soon find our way through the transition.
It’s easy to be seduced into thinking we’re all divided, that there are “sides” to this thing called Life. But that is such a fallacy. There are no “sides” to Life anymore than there are sides to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.
When we pick up our instruments, we’re playing together. We’ve forgotten that, and we have the woodwinds trying to drown out the brass instruments, while the strings sit there trying to play faster and faster, thinking if they finish first, they “win!” Isn’t that silly?
We win at Life when we work together to create harmony. We win when every instrument and voice is given its opportunity to be heard as part of the whole. We win when we embrace the diversity of our voices and sounds and realize that we all are valued and contribute to the overall whole, and that the sound of someone else’s notes can actually make our notes sound better!
The key is to listen to the other instruments so we know what to play. The only way to find the right harmony note is to listen to find your note. Listen to your neighbor. Hear what they’re playing, and see how you fit in this new song. Because, believe me, you do fit.
Your voice is needed. You have notes to play and a song to sing. We’ll discover them together.
I believe in the power of journaling! Spending time actually writing down your thoughts, impressions, and feelings provides a way to work through challenges and to appreciate our blessings. Here are some questions for you to consider in your journal:
- Do I feel that my part in the Global Symphony is shifting? How?
- What do I feel like I need in order to contribute to the whole?
- What does Spirit want me to know about this time of transition and my role in it?
So beautifully expressed dear Colette! Thank you for sharing the inspiration we need most at this time. 💚
A thanks , listening is nice 👂🤙
Beautiful article thank you.
Feel energy vibration expanding whil listening songs on humanity.
Hi Colette!
This is such beautiful truth! It feels light and is in flow as I read it. I haven’t read your blog for awhile and today my body dove right into it.
As long as I’m here…thank you for your Goddess deck (have other decks of yours too!). The guidance is so useful and the art work is stunning! I did do an Oracle Card Party and it was fun and so profound. I loved including “reading” the chosen card with our own intuition and inner guidance along with your guided message in the booklet.
Thank you for your loving energy that you send in harmony like a symphony to the world!
With much love and gratitude!
Thank You Colette, this is Beautiful!
Love love love Love!!!!!
Absolutely beautiful! I shed such tears of awe & joy! Loved your words, Colette!
Hi, Colette! What an exquisitely beautiful song, and analogy. Love that “if two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary”. I, and probably countless others during this “great pause” have realized that some things no longer fit and that I REALLY want to play a different instrument. So, I’m practicing a new one. 😉 You also reminded me of studies where 2 different singers record the same song, while focusing on different intentions. One singer’s intention was simply to hit all the notes properly. The other singer’s intention was of a more spiritual nature-to be an instrument of the Divine, to sing from the heart and soul. The 2 versions were played for people participating in the (blind) study. I’m sure you can guess which version they preferred and felt the most moved by. 💜
Loved your blog this week. Yes that is precisely how I think & feel. Why is it so hard for other’s to get this? So peaceful in my heart to know you are spreading the symphony.
Heavenly
It is amazing…I felt it through my body…tears flowed, happy tears.
I was talking with Spirit last night, and I was expressing gratitude like I do every night, but I still can’t figure out why I cry all the time. I do feel separated and alone. My path has been very singular, and I don’t feel like I’ve found my place in the world with people. I’m turning 60 in a month, and life feels like I really don’t matter in the big picture, and I realized that I cry for a lifetime of a broken heart. I AM grateful for all that’s come and gone, but I don’t know how to ‘fix’ my broken heart. I rarely dream of anything. I’ve been asked my ‘why’, and I have no answer.
I say all this to say that the only one who listens is Spirit. People don’t want to hear these messages; they all have their own heart to mend, and no answers. When I read your post about the grand symphony, I thought it was beautiful, and it touched me. The music is indescribable. Thank you.
Perfection! Love you honey💕💯
Absolutely beautiful, brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you for the beautiful analogy of a symphony and our individual/collective roles in life. Thank you for sharing Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir 6. I had learned of his project, but hadn’t heard the finished project. Not only the music, but your words brought tears to my eyes. You are such a light in the world, thank you for all your messages And gifts – they are a blessing to us all.
You write so eloquently! I honour your Music and Life analogy . Yes! May we each play our instrument with joy and abandon as we contribute to the Whole! We are all needed and valued. Blessings.
How beautiful the message! Thank you Colette. My voice has been silent for a very long time. Now that it is not, need to listen to the harmony created by those in my part of the symphony of life… thank you again for reminding me that my voice too belongs. 💞
So ethereal. Fabulous effort. Thank you for sharing it with us.
(Brought me to tears also… and I have no water in my chart l!! )
Wow the video and choir and orchestra was sooo amazing! Had goosebumps!
Much gratitude for this beautiful reminder of our Oneness. I hadn’t heard of this virtual choir and special conductor before. I have shared this to my family and friends. It takes just one percent of any populous to energetically change the trajectory of the entire populous. Let’s be the change we want to see in this beautiful world.
Thank you so much, Colette! So beautifully written, and for me, one of those “just in time” things!
The choral piece is exemplary! We are a piece of music that need each one of us to play our part. This is a beautiful share. Thanks Colette I will pass this one along to the music lovers in my world
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS BEAUTIFUL VIDEO AND YOUR WORDS! Very uplifting to start a Monday. I will save this email so i can listen to this video over and over!
It is almost like a meditation – gives me such a profound calming feeling.
There is hope that the world can come together as one.
Thank you for sharing this awesome and beautiful symphony. What a treat it was this morning. Blessing to you.
THANK YOU for sharing this incredible piece of work, it fills my heart and soul to overflowing….
Incredibly moving video, and your message is so right on. Thank you Colette for all the love you bring to the Universe. You are amazing.❤️
This is so beautifully expressed. How do we get back to singing our song as part of the global Song? There is so much anger, selfishness, hate. And it brings so much heavy sadness, I think we are giving up hope. Thank you for this insight.
Awww may we all play from the same song sheet our voices and instruments blending together . The Symphony Of Life💖
Awww may we all play from the same song sheet our voices and instruments blending together . The Symphony Of Life💖
He has had several virtual choirs over the years and everyone of the videos are soul touching with all the harmonies and dissonances. I feel this really portrays how our world tends to function lately. Whitacre really taps into the music of the spheres. If you listen you can see and feel the images behind. My favorite is The Seal Lullaby.
Beautiful analogy, and illustration of the ” higher perspective”. ” The beginning of wisdom is silence, the next stage is listening”. As music has been an integral part of my life, since the age of seven, I listen to many artists, perform, sometimes solo, sometimes with other instruments. To be in tune takes an awareness/overview of all of the participants, the distinctive parts each play, and the fusion of their instruments/voices. The conductor gives the cues to each one according to the tempo and score. It’s not as hoc, but can be improvisational. In a choir the blending, harmony and pitch keep everyone on point.
In life, sometimes, we must be quiet to be present for others, to listen, get ourselves out of the way. Holding the space for someone is an extension. Just our presence is asked for. I always find especially when there has been a full moon, that the energy gets amplified, and their is impatience, and a lack of respect for others. As important as the silence, between the notes, is the ability to see others around you and to be mindful of their part. Each one matters, is a part of the chorus, and contributes to the vibrational alignment of joining the voices to build a symphony. One voice is the synthesis of many notes.
Colette – So beautifully said and so true!! We all need to slow down and consider our part, our neighbor’s part and how we want to bring the world to make a better place for all of us. Journaling, meditating and praying are all steps along this road. Let’s begin.
Over the years Eric Whitacre has composed many songs for virtual choir. He portrays the harmonies and dissonances and the images and feelings that, not only we internally have had but what the world has been experiencing for years. We must live through the realms of discord and despair to emerge full of love and understanding. With the help of Spirit and a community, all things are possible. Two of Eric Whitacre’s songs, Fly to Paradise and The Seal Lullaby remind me of my Personal Mastery goals of learning to trust myself, just fly and go with the flow of the current. Sing reminds me to be gentle with myself and others on the path to the Finished Symphony.
Music so uplifting and appropriate. Just finished half hour Mediation the Theme being ‘world peace’ so focusing on US in the challenge ahead. I specially mention the US in prayer morning as I awake and last thing at night, so hopefully we wil achieve that grand symphony.
I put question Three of your suggested questions pulled from Seven energies and pulled card 40 ‘ The Land Between’, how accurate, being feelin* I have been in no mans Land for quite a while now.
Most grateful.
Breege
Thank you Colette, this article makes so much sense. We are ALL in this together, let’s find our instrument and play.💟💟
Thank you colette this is good for my ears Beautiful
Thank you for such Beautiful piece it bought tears to my eyes much 💘
Thank you Colette this opened my heart full
Thank you for sharing this video – I’m so glad I didn’t miss seeing this!
It is such a beautiful representation of what is possible, and your deep insights and eloquent words made it all the more meaningful. This couldn’t be more perfect for what the world and individuals are experiencing right now, thank you!
Gave me goosebumps and tears.. amazing!
Thank you Colette. This gives me hope and reminds me how awesome humanity can be when honoring our differences and celebrating our commonalities. Very uplifting video.
This is brought me to tears. You wrote so beautifully about how we are all connected and all of us are needed to make the Whole. There really is only One of us here. This is one of your most beautiful blogs. Thank you so much.
This music is amazing. So beautiful. It makes me cry…