Alice Parker describes two silences: first, the inchoate silence, the preparatory silence before music begins; and second, the silence of completion, after the music ends.
One of the most intriguing dances of creation is the dance with inchoate silence. I am composing a set of canons right now; and I know that they will arrive, on time, and as well-made as I can make them.
But today, I have nothing to show for them – truly no sense of their eventual form. I am in a state of inchoate silence.
Trusting that that silence is part of the process, but not ending up in a perpetual state of silence, is the dance.
Truly, I love the feeling of inchoate silence. I love the feeling of knowing the song is about to start, but not knowing precisely when.