Performance and rehearsals in an established musical ensemble is a good

[MineralMan]

substitute for religion for those unable to believe in supernatural entities.

Discuss...

[MineralMan]

1. In extensio...

Bound by the immutable laws of physics, individuals strive to achieve perfection separately. Then, coming together as a group, all attempt to use those laws to produce a whole that is both harmonious and faithful to the vision of the creator, while incorporating the spirit of the performers, individually and as a group. While perfection is never attained, each performance is an expression of the gestalt of the entire group and the consensus of the group. Such a thing is akin to worship for me, and for many other musicians I have known.

Once an individual piece of music is rehearsed to near perfection, it can be presented to an audience, who will experience this with varying degrees of admiration and respect, both for the author and for the dedication of the ensemble. On rare occasions, a performance rises to the level of a transcendent experience for both the performers and audience.

What more is necessary?