Feeling the Sound

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   I have always enjoyed loud noises since I was a child, even though they will damage my ears in the end. My town holds an annual event called “Old Home Day”. For those who are not from New Hampshire, it is a celebration of the town’s founding. One of the main highlights of this local celebration is the over-the-top fireworks show for a town population of 5,700. I can recall the large booms shaking my bones from the inside out. The sensory input was insanely satisfying. I remember the endless times my mother scolded me for yelling “BOOM” as the fireworks launched.



    Now that I am older, I have a different preference for how I consume my loud noises. I enjoy playing music at almost the top volume in my car while driving. The subwoofers shake the bones in my chest and vibrate all three of my mirrors. Although the sounds have changed from fireworks to music, the feeling remains similar. I enjoy how sound can be more of a physical experience, rather than just passively taking in the noise.


    This made me reflect on A. Rasmussen’s Women, the Recited Qur’an, and Islamic Music in Indonesia and how she explores the importance of sounds in religious experiences. One of the things I find interesting in the reading is how listening is not a passive experience. Sound creates emotions, physical reactions, and connections that go beyond words. While my experience with sound is not religious, I am able to relate to the concept that sound can create a deep sensory experience. When I listen to my excessively loud music, I am not just hearing it; I am feeling it throughout my body. Similarly, the experience of hearing Qur’anic recitation can involve more than understanding the words. The sound, rhythm, and delivery can contribute to how individuals experience and connect to the recitation.

    I think this demonstrates how differently people can experience sound depending on background, beliefs, and personal connections. For some, sound may connect them to their religious beliefs, cultural traditions, or even just memories. For me, it has always been associated with emotions like joy, anger, excitement, and sadness. Loud noises have always been a part of my life. Even though my hearing will be muted towards the end of my life, I find that my life would have been well lived if I had found happiness in every moment a sound passed through my ear canal. 

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