The Evolution of Communication in Music: A Journey Through Time

Connecting Through Music

One of the great advantages of today's world is how easy it has become to connect with one another. I remember planning my choir's first trip to America. Speaking to a travel company on the phone involved inevitable delays before the other person replied. Looking back, the cost of those calls makes me wonder how we ever got anything done.

In contrast, today, a piece of music can be written and emailed as a PDF. An organist in another country can download, play, and record it on a Hauptwerk instrument. Just like that, it can appear on YouTube the next day. The wonderful organist from the Netherlands, Rien Schalkwijk, is known for sharing his performances even faster!

The Wonders of Modern Technology

Words like PDF, download, and YouTube are commonplace now. However, when I began my journey as a composer and conductor over 35 years ago, these terms were unknown. They existed only in the minds of those dreaming up futuristic technologies, like in "Star Trek."

At the heart of all this technology are people. At Tim Knight Music, we are profoundly grateful for many talented individuals. Organists such as Rien, James Flores, Vidas Pinkevicius, Steven Maxson, Jeremiah Martin, Alejandro Consolacion, and others regularly perform and record our music. These talented musicians come from Australia, Lithuania, Manila, America, the Netherlands, and right here at home.

Their contributions prove invaluable. Hearing a piece often encourages sales and commissions. When potential clients can listen to a piece of music on YouTube, they understand the quality of my compositions.

Personal Connections Across Borders

Admittedly, I have never met most of the people mentioned above in person. Yet, I have forged lasting connections with musicians from many countries, including America, Canada, Belgium, Latvia, Hungary, and Norway. Social media platforms like Facebook are incredibly useful for maintaining these relationships.

The attached video is a recording of "Stars," featuring conductor Brian Burns. I met Brian while serving as composer-in-residence in Dubuque, Iowa, back in 2011. Here he is with his choir in Rockland County, New York, in 2024.

The Modern Dilemma of Communication

In our digitized world, it’s common to see two people at a restaurant, seemingly together yet glued to their phones. It appears that the art of face-to-face conversation is becoming less appreciated. However, we still have reason to be thankful for our communication technology. Imagine if we had to write letters to contact each other. We might have to sell our houses just to pay for postage!

Supporting Each Other

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the people who support us in this journey. I encourage you to explore their YouTube channels and support them. You will discover some wonderful music and talented performances. Don't forget to check out our YouTube channel as well.

Remember to keep in touch. Who knows? We might create music together someday!

Tim

For more about the piece "Stars," you can check it out on our store here.

TKM880 Stars

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