Deep in an earth cave, silence is pure. You can almost hear it. In this form, silence is truly the absence of sound. What is it in the cave that makes the ears tingle? What is this deafening sensation in the cave? Are we hearing the sound of the ether? The sound of creation? The sound of death?
Above the ground, silence is not so proud. It moves like a needle over the coarse contours of the underlying reality. Here silence follows a sound like the smell of an apple pie follows an apple pie. This is the natural air and tone of silence. It is not the silence of the cave.
Silence formed between human beings who are engaged in conversation is the breath of the conversation. These mutual pauses can be eloquent, as in appreciation of what had preceded. Or the silence can be uncomfortable. It can be pregnant with anticipation, as in the silence between the punchline of a joke and the uproarious laughter. Or, it can be a mocking silence following the speaker. This silence is between humans has a tone that is undeniable, but unmeasurable. The silence communicates as powerfully as words, and sometimes more powerfully. Is this some sort of psychological trick or is it the proof of some sort of magic?
Silence in music is like the light that shines between the leaves on a tree. Without it, the leaves would be without distinction. Music is the intentional utilization of silence. A skilled orator may know how to use silence to his effect, and in this way, is more of a musician than a speaker. In music, silence is not the mere space between words, without which, communication would be garbled. In music, silence is a word.
I find that when I write, I can do so either in silence, or with a lot of noise around me. I can write listening to music. I can write at home alone, or in a noisy cafe, but I cannot do it listening alone to talk radio. There is something about the single voice, a single narrative, in the silence that makes it impossible to concentrate on another task. I think we are born innately tuned to listen for the sound of a single human voice coming through the silence.