"For me, art, and especially music, exists to elevate us as far as possible above everyday existence."

-- Gabriel Faure', composer (1845-1924)

What drunkenness is this that brings me hope --

Who was the Cup-bearer, and whence the wine?

That minstrel singing with full voice divine,

What lay was his? for 'mid the woven rope

Of song, he brought word from my Friend to me

Set to his melody.

-- Hafiz, The Garden of Heaven, (trans. by G. Bell); poem XIX

Each day may I count the causes of Thy mercy,

May I each day give heed to Thy laws;

Each day may I compose to Thee a song,

May I harp each day Thy praise, O God.

-- from The Celtic Vision, edited by Esther de Waal

Standing quietly by the fence,

you smile your wondrous smile.

I am speechless, and my senses are filled

by the sounds of your beautiful song,

Beginningless and endless.

I bow deeply to you.

quoted by Thich Nhat Hanh

in For the Love of God: Handbook for the Spirit

edited by Benjamin Shield and Richard Carlson

After silence,

that which come nearest

to expressing the inexpressible,

is music.

Aldous Huxley