Corporate Talent Detection and Development

9 Musical MO.O.N.: Tonal-rhythmic

9.1. Music is silent (ancient China tells us)

“Music is a succession of sounds and combinations of sounds organized in such a way as to produce an impression that is pleasant to the ears, and this impression on intelligence is understandable [...]. These impressions have the power to influence secret parts of our mind and sentimental spheres, and this influence makes us live in a dreamland where desires are fulfilled, or in a dream hell” Arnold Schönberg [GAR 97, p. 112].

“The wind blows and all the cavities of the earth let us hear an infinite multitude of sounds. It is up to the wind to animate softly, but in depth, the infinite diversity of realities of the natural world and confer the essential beauty of a living harmony to it”. François Jullien [JUL 03, p. 91].

It is fitting to cautiously think of the musical MO.O.N., because like the concept of intelligence and talent, we could be inclined to think of music from the point of view (idein) of art (composition, creation, interpretation) and of the emotion obtained. To work on this issue of operation, and consequently of assessment and observation, we will have to remember that in China, historically, music is quiet...

Laozi [HE 99, p. 76] tells us that “Great music is quiet”, and in doing so reminds us that we must not get lost in the image we may have of “music”. We must avoid believing – theoretically – that the musical MO.O.N. – forcibly – implies an artistic or emotional field in ...