Silence takes its meaning from surrounding sound

Evidence

When silence precedes sound, nervous anticipation makes it more vibrant. When it interrupts or follows sound, it reverberates with the tissue of that which sounded, and this state continues as long as the memory holds it. Ergo, however dimly, silence sounds. — Schafer, Murray R, The Soundscape- Our Sonic Environment…, 864

Categorization

• XREF: Directly extends earlier chapters on silence’s relational sound. — connects to: Silence enables sound to form musical relationships — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 612; Silence is an active presence that must be experienced, not imagined — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 26; The most valued sound can be the silence preceding a sound — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 37 (+26 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Schafer, Murray R, The Soundscape- Our Sonic Environment…, 864

Broader Connections

• Silence functions as the measure that structures both music and physical space #expands (0.80) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 295
• Dictionaries define silence only negatively, as an absence of sound #contradicts (0.75) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 81
• Deep silence can feel like a sensory presence rather than mere absence #expands (0.70) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 35