What is it?

Check this out first (try listening to it first, without the images, just the song playing, your eyes closed. Pay careful attention to your reactions as you listen)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KkUeRPjc-Y&hd=1

I don't know what you think of Mumford and Sons as a band. They are quite the phenom in Great Britain and are gaining a lot of popularity here in North America as well. They have a lot of songs that are really great and have some gospel resonance.

As I listened to their CD the past while I found myself doing something over and over again - and it seemed to happen regardless of whether I was paying attention to the lyrics or not. Repeatedly I found myself getting energized, tapping my feet, wanting to move and getting excited as I listened.

Now, most of the time when we think of songs we are drawn to the lyrics. We read the words and find them inspiring - or not, as the case may be. But, (and here this isn't a new thought I am sure) I have been wondering lately abut the resonance that "form" has with us. What I mean is this: Is there a way to write music, structurally, that enlivens us? Is there a predictable way of embedding the notes, beating them out, harmonizing certain things together, etc., that when combined has the effect of lifting our spirits, stirring our souls and quickening our pulses that goes beyond the impact of the lyrics?

I am not asking, "Is there a formula for writing music that produces a hit song?" I am asking - are there unseen, redemptive, enlivening structures to music (and perhaps other things as well) that impact and change us in non obvious ways?

I think that the answer is clearly yes. The problem is, I don't know nearly enough about music to make the case.

Is the same thing inherent in good art? the structure of a well done speech? the symmetry of a bridge? the inherent structure of a good relationship? the beauty in the exchange that takes place in a well done conversation?

This seems to be the sort of thing that happens and "grabs" us, but it's hard to predict when. That said, we all know what it's like to be in an event/ conversation/ etc where the content and structure are at odds.

This is a bit of a rambling post - but it sets my mind to thinking a bit about the redemptive, beautiful, Divinely authored structure of the world around us. Where do I see it? Where can I find it? What are it's implications for what I do? say? sing? Can I mimic the redemptive work of God in ways that go beyond the obvious?

Maybe this is too simple of a question - but, where are the "deep structure" (a phrase a friend used last week) to our world that have the fingerprints of God on them?