[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
let me guess what you’re thinking oh he
let me guess what you’re thinking oh he is nervous he forgot what he’s gotta say
is nervous he forgot what he’s gotta say
is nervous he forgot what he’s gotta say TEDx Dayton’s first epic fail no no I
TEDx Dayton’s first epic fail no no I
TEDx Dayton’s first epic fail no no I sure hope not we just experienced the
sure hope not we just experienced the
sure hope not we just experienced the power of silence in this case the power
power of silence in this case the power
power of silence in this case the power of silence to make us uncomfortable
of silence to make us uncomfortable
of silence to make us uncomfortable we don’t really like silence that’s why
we don’t really like silence that’s why
we don’t really like silence that’s why we fill it with background music with
we fill it with background music with
we fill it with background music with talk radio with cat videos with podcasts
talk radio with cat videos with podcasts
talk radio with cat videos with podcasts and playlists but there isn’t enough
and playlists but there isn’t enough
and playlists but there isn’t enough silence in our lives our lives are too
silence in our lives our lives are too
silence in our lives our lives are too filled with noise too filled with
filled with noise too filled with
filled with noise too filled with distractions too filled with stuff
silence is nature’s beautiful antidote
silence is nature’s beautiful antidote to all that craziness I’m a conductor
to all that craziness I’m a conductor
to all that craziness I’m a conductor surrounded by music the opposite of
surrounded by music the opposite of
surrounded by music the opposite of silence but every piece of music I
silence but every piece of music I
silence but every piece of music I conduct begins from silence and ends
conduct begins from silence and ends
conduct begins from silence and ends into silence it’s crazy but I conducted
into silence it’s crazy but I conducted
into silence it’s crazy but I conducted orchestras for more than 30 years before
orchestras for more than 30 years before
orchestras for more than 30 years before I ever realized that and I never truly
I ever realized that and I never truly
I ever realized that and I never truly appreciated the real power of silence
appreciated the real power of silence
appreciated the real power of silence until three years ago when I went on a
until three years ago when I went on a
until three years ago when I went on a five-day retreat at the Abbey of Our
five-day retreat at the Abbey of Our
five-day retreat at the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemane near Bardstown
Lady of Gethsemane near Bardstown
Lady of Gethsemane near Bardstown Kentucky Gethsemane is a Cistercian
Kentucky Gethsemane is a Cistercian
Kentucky Gethsemane is a Cistercian monastery founded in 1848 it’s perhaps
monastery founded in 1848 it’s perhaps
monastery founded in 1848 it’s perhaps best known as the home of the great
best known as the home of the great
best known as the home of the great philosopher monk Thomas Merton silence
philosopher monk Thomas Merton silence
philosopher monk Thomas Merton silence is an integral part of a monk’s life at
is an integral part of a monk’s life at
is an integral part of a monk’s life at the Abbey
the Abbey
the Abbey the monks use silence as a tool to focus
the monks use silence as a tool to focus
the monks use silence as a tool to focus their attention inward to prayer and
their attention inward to prayer and
their attention inward to prayer and outward to work among other things they
outward to work among other things they
outward to work among other things they make killer fudge some batches even
make killer fudge some batches even
make killer fudge some batches even flavoured some batch is even flavored
flavoured some batch is even flavored
flavoured some batch is even flavored with good old
with good old
with good old Kentucky Bourbon but the monks aren’t
Kentucky Bourbon but the monks aren’t
Kentucky Bourbon but the monks aren’t completely silent seven times a day they
completely silent seven times a day they
completely silent seven times a day they come together in Gethsemane a church to
come together in Gethsemane a church to
come together in Gethsemane a church to sing songs
sing songs
sing songs [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] every two weeks they sing their way
every two weeks they sing their way
every two weeks they sing their way through all 150 Psalms and then they
through all 150 Psalms and then they
through all 150 Psalms and then they start all over again so how did an
start all over again so how did an
start all over again so how did an agnostic Jewish conductor find himself
agnostic Jewish conductor find himself
agnostic Jewish conductor find himself on a five-day retreat where he sang
on a five-day retreat where he sang
on a five-day retreat where he sang Psalms seven times a day with a bunch of
Psalms seven times a day with a bunch of
Psalms seven times a day with a bunch of otherwise silent Trappist monks first of
otherwise silent Trappist monks first of
otherwise silent Trappist monks first of all like many people I had read some
all like many people I had read some
all like many people I had read some Thomas Merton and I found his takes on
Thomas Merton and I found his takes on
Thomas Merton and I found his takes on life religion and humanity deeply
life religion and humanity deeply
life religion and humanity deeply fascinating second I fell in love with
fascinating second I fell in love with
fascinating second I fell in love with the chant liturgy when I was a freshman
the chant liturgy when I was a freshman
the chant liturgy when I was a freshman in college first semester music history
in college first semester music history
in college first semester music history is basically the story of music in the
is basically the story of music in the
is basically the story of music in the early Roman Catholic Church and one of
early Roman Catholic Church and one of
early Roman Catholic Church and one of the first things you learn about is the
the first things you learn about is the
the first things you learn about is the monastic life and the chants and songs
monastic life and the chants and songs
monastic life and the chants and songs that monks sing as part of their daily
that monks sing as part of their daily
that monks sing as part of their daily routine so three years ago when I was
routine so three years ago when I was
routine so three years ago when I was about to go into rehearsals for Dayton
about to go into rehearsals for Dayton
about to go into rehearsals for Dayton operas production of Aida I was looking
operas production of Aida I was looking
operas production of Aida I was looking for a place where I could get away for a
for a place where I could get away for a
for a place where I could get away for a few days clear my head and just study
few days clear my head and just study
few days clear my head and just study the Opera and I realized that the answer
the Opera and I realized that the answer
the Opera and I realized that the answer was three and a half hours south of
was three and a half hours south of
was three and a half hours south of Dayton at Gethsemane one of the most
Dayton at Gethsemane one of the most
Dayton at Gethsemane one of the most powerful experiences I had during that
powerful experiences I had during that
powerful experiences I had during that first retreat to the abbey was running
first retreat to the abbey was running
first retreat to the abbey was running into an old friend of mine
into an old friend of mine
into an old friend of mine Don Hawke retired first trombone of the
Don Hawke retired first trombone of the
Don Hawke retired first trombone of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra someone I
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra someone I
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra someone I hadn’t seen in more than 10 years Don
hadn’t seen in more than 10 years Don
hadn’t seen in more than 10 years Don and I found ourselves sitting next to
and I found ourselves sitting next to
and I found ourselves sitting next to each other at lunch one day eating in
each other at lunch one day eating in
each other at lunch one day eating in silence and gazing out at the
silence and gazing out at the
silence and gazing out at the incomparable beauty of late winter
incomparable beauty of late winter
incomparable beauty of late winter turning into early spring we didn’t say
turning into early spring we didn’t say
turning into early spring we didn’t say a word
a word
a word but the silence we shared was amazing
but the silence we shared was amazing
but the silence we shared was amazing you’d think after all those years we’d
you’d think after all those years we’d
you’d think after all those years we’d have lots to talk about and we did later
have lots to talk about and we did later
have lots to talk about and we did later on we got together on a bench outside
on we got together on a bench outside
on we got together on a bench outside the Abbey to catch up and reminisce but
the Abbey to catch up and reminisce but
the Abbey to catch up and reminisce but somehow
somehow
somehow I felt as if we said more to each other
I felt as if we said more to each other
I felt as if we said more to each other during that wordless lunch then when we
during that wordless lunch then when we
during that wordless lunch then when we actually spoke and that’s when I
actually spoke and that’s when I
actually spoke and that’s when I realized for the first time the true
realized for the first time the true
realized for the first time the true power of silence silence of course is an
power of silence silence of course is an
power of silence silence of course is an important element of music to music is
important element of music to music is
important element of music to music is made up of notes but when there aren’t
made up of notes but when there aren’t
made up of notes but when there aren’t notes there are rests and every rest is
notes there are rests and every rest is
notes there are rests and every rest is a silence musical silences can be quite
a silence musical silences can be quite
a silence musical silences can be quite short here’s the shortest one I know the
short here’s the shortest one I know the
short here’s the shortest one I know the silence that begins Beethoven’s fifth
silence that begins Beethoven’s fifth
silence that begins Beethoven’s fifth symphony fourteen one hundredths of a
symphony fourteen one hundredths of a
symphony fourteen one hundredths of a second
second
second it’s the tiny sliver of time between
it’s the tiny sliver of time between
it’s the tiny sliver of time between when you first see the next slide and
when you first see the next slide and
when you first see the next slide and when you first hear the music for me
when you first hear the music for me
when you first hear the music for me that itty-bitty little silence is like
that itty-bitty little silence is like
that itty-bitty little silence is like the instant of the Big Bang setting off
the instant of the Big Bang setting off
the instant of the Big Bang setting off an explosion that creates an entire
an explosion that creates an entire
an explosion that creates an entire musical universe now if that’s maybe the
musical universe now if that’s maybe the
musical universe now if that’s maybe the shortest silence in all of music this is
shortest silence in all of music this is
shortest silence in all of music this is probably the longest four minutes and 33
probably the longest four minutes and 33
probably the longest four minutes and 33 seconds by the bad boy of classical
seconds by the bad boy of classical
seconds by the bad boy of classical music John Cage I think this is the most
music John Cage I think this is the most
music John Cage I think this is the most important piece of music of the 20th
important piece of music of the 20th
important piece of music of the 20th century and I know it’s the most
century and I know it’s the most
century and I know it’s the most misunderstood that’s because four
misunderstood that’s because four
misunderstood that’s because four minutes and 33 seconds is really four
minutes and 33 seconds is really four
minutes and 33 seconds is really four minutes and 33 seconds of silence but
minutes and 33 seconds of silence but
minutes and 33 seconds of silence but it’s no joke Cage was dead serious when
it’s no joke Cage was dead serious when
it’s no joke Cage was dead serious when he wrote it in 1952 for pianist David
he wrote it in 1952 for pianist David
he wrote it in 1952 for pianist David tutor who premiered it at the Maverick
tutor who premiered it at the Maverick
tutor who premiered it at the Maverick concert hall in Woodstock New York
concert hall in Woodstock New York
concert hall in Woodstock New York maverick is an amazing building with
maverick is an amazing building with
maverick is an amazing building with walls open to the outside so when David
walls open to the outside so when David
walls open to the outside so when David Tudor sat at the piano for 4 minutes and
Tudor sat at the piano for 4 minutes and
Tudor sat at the piano for 4 minutes and 33 seconds and never played a note there
33 seconds and never played a note there
33 seconds and never played a note there wasn’t silence the audience could hear
wasn’t silence the audience could hear
wasn’t silence the audience could hear the sounds of
the sounds of
the sounds of danger all around them and that’s what
danger all around them and that’s what
danger all around them and that’s what cage was after he wanted his audience to
cage was after he wanted his audience to
cage was after he wanted his audience to listen to four minutes and 33 seconds of
listen to four minutes and 33 seconds of
listen to four minutes and 33 seconds of the world with the same attention and
the world with the same attention and
the world with the same attention and the same concentration that they would
the same concentration that they would
the same concentration that they would normally devote to four and a half
normally devote to four and a half
normally devote to four and a half minutes of Mozart or Beethoven or Brahms
minutes of Mozart or Beethoven or Brahms
minutes of Mozart or Beethoven or Brahms when the piece is performed and it does
when the piece is performed and it does
when the piece is performed and it does get performed it’s usually done in three
get performed it’s usually done in three
get performed it’s usually done in three movements as David Tudor first played it
movements as David Tudor first played it
movements as David Tudor first played it this is what the sheet music looks like
this is what the sheet music looks like
this is what the sheet music looks like the first movement is thirty seconds of
the first movement is thirty seconds of
the first movement is thirty seconds of silence tacit is music lingo for don’t
silence tacit is music lingo for don’t
silence tacit is music lingo for don’t play then comes two minutes and 23
play then comes two minutes and 23
play then comes two minutes and 23 seconds of silence and finally one
seconds of silence and finally one
seconds of silence and finally one minute and 40 seconds of silence with
minute and 40 seconds of silence with
minute and 40 seconds of silence with the beginning and end of each movement
the beginning and end of each movement
the beginning and end of each movement marked by the opening and closing of the
marked by the opening and closing of the
marked by the opening and closing of the piano lid now you know how they say
piano lid now you know how they say
piano lid now you know how they say there’s an app for that well there’s an
there’s an app for that well there’s an
there’s an app for that well there’s an app for that
app for that
app for that an app that lets you record and then
an app that lets you record and then
an app that lets you record and then upload your own performances so let’s
upload your own performances so let’s
upload your own performances so let’s make TEDx Dayton History and record one
make TEDx Dayton History and record one
make TEDx Dayton History and record one on my iPhone right now we’re not in the
on my iPhone right now we’re not in the
on my iPhone right now we’re not in the Maverick concert hall with walls open to
Maverick concert hall with walls open to
Maverick concert hall with walls open to nature but we can try to create our own
nature but we can try to create our own
nature but we can try to create our own urban equivalent right now TEDx
urban equivalent right now TEDx
urban equivalent right now TEDx volunteers are going to start opening
volunteers are going to start opening
volunteers are going to start opening the doors to the theater
the doors to the theater
the doors to the theater not just the doors to the auditorium but
not just the doors to the auditorium but
not just the doors to the auditorium but also the doors to the outside that’s so
also the doors to the outside that’s so
also the doors to the outside that’s so we can let the sounds of the world
we can let the sounds of the world
we can let the sounds of the world around us join with the silence to focus
around us join with the silence to focus
around us join with the silence to focus our attention and our listening for
our attention and our listening for
our attention and our listening for minutes and 33 seconds is about going
minutes and 33 seconds is about going
minutes and 33 seconds is about going inside yourself like the monks and
inside yourself like the monks and
inside yourself like the monks and opening yourself up to the music of the
opening yourself up to the music of the
opening yourself up to the music of the world around you even if it’s cars and
world around you even if it’s cars and
world around you even if it’s cars and buses in the streets of Dayton Ohio so
buses in the streets of Dayton Ohio so
buses in the streets of Dayton Ohio so let’s do it
so what are the lessons we can learn
so what are the lessons we can learn from four minutes and 33 seconds besides
from four minutes and 33 seconds besides
from four minutes and 33 seconds besides the fact they’re a whole bunch of people
the fact they’re a whole bunch of people
the fact they’re a whole bunch of people talking in the lobby who missed my talk
[Applause]
[Applause] it doesn’t have to be four and a half
it doesn’t have to be four and a half
it doesn’t have to be four and a half minutes it’s hard start with maybe start
minutes it’s hard start with maybe start
minutes it’s hard start with maybe start with four seconds then try 33 seconds
with four seconds then try 33 seconds
with four seconds then try 33 seconds work your way up even a few moments of
work your way up even a few moments of
work your way up even a few moments of silence can make a real difference in
silence can make a real difference in
silence can make a real difference in your life
your life
your life calming your soul and opening your
calming your soul and opening your
calming your soul and opening your perception when silence does find you
perception when silence does find you
perception when silence does find you try not to fill it as we continue our
try not to fill it as we continue our
try not to fill it as we continue our day of listening here at TEDx dating
day of listening here at TEDx dating
day of listening here at TEDx dating let’s try to have the experience of four
let’s try to have the experience of four
let’s try to have the experience of four minutes and 33 seconds in form the way
minutes and 33 seconds in form the way
minutes and 33 seconds in form the way we listen the rest of the day don’t sit
we listen the rest of the day don’t sit
we listen the rest of the day don’t sit back and relax sit up and listen like
back and relax sit up and listen like
back and relax sit up and listen like your life depends on it
your life depends on it
your life depends on it I’ll leave you with one final beautiful
I’ll leave you with one final beautiful
I’ll leave you with one final beautiful bit of serendipity three years ago when
bit of serendipity three years ago when
bit of serendipity three years ago when I went on that first retreat to
I went on that first retreat to
I went on that first retreat to Gethsemane Abbey my wife did me a favor
Gethsemane Abbey my wife did me a favor
Gethsemane Abbey my wife did me a favor and packed my suitcase for me I didn’t
and packed my suitcase for me I didn’t
and packed my suitcase for me I didn’t look at it till I got there and when I
look at it till I got there and when I
look at it till I got there and when I opened my suitcase I found this my four
opened my suitcase I found this my four
opened my suitcase I found this my four minutes and 33 seconds t-shirt Lisa had
minutes and 33 seconds t-shirt Lisa had
minutes and 33 seconds t-shirt Lisa had no idea what it was or how significant
no idea what it was or how significant
no idea what it was or how significant it was for her it was just a nice clean
it was for her it was just a nice clean
it was for her it was just a nice clean t-shirt somewhere near the top of the
t-shirt somewhere near the top of the
t-shirt somewhere near the top of the pile but before I left the Abbey to
pile but before I left the Abbey to
pile but before I left the Abbey to return to Dayton and Aida and the hubbub
return to Dayton and Aida and the hubbub
return to Dayton and Aida and the hubbub of everyday life
of everyday life
of everyday life I put on the shirt went outside the
I put on the shirt went outside the
I put on the shirt went outside the entrance to the retreat house and took
entrance to the retreat house and took
entrance to the retreat house and took my first-ever selfie
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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