Musings upon the Limitations of Recorded Music

Encoded,
Trapped in digits
Or on tape
Or in a wiggly groove.
Whatever the medium,
That which is encrypted
Requires a codec's touch
(Physical or digital)
To reawaken meaning
By becoming interpretable
To the human spirit.

Recorded:
Not the performance
Nor the music
But a most careful avatar
Of that which once was.
The music,
The performance
Can be evoked
But not entirely recreated.

Music, uttered,
Is spent in the unfolding
Of myriad moments
And the whole:
Time choreographed,
Meaning unfolded.
But its life
Can be celebrated afresh
Upon a relistening.