Pure melody, flowing in its own invisible and impalpable channels.

March 8.

Went to a concert of instrumental music this evening. The imitations of the horn and the echo by the violoncello were very good, but the sounds of the clarionet were the most liquid and melodious. It is a powerful instrument and filled the hall, realizing my idea of the shepherd's pipe. It was a conduit of gurgling melody, but it apparently required a great effort of the lungs. Its sounds entered every cranny of the hall and filled it to repletion with sweet liquid melody. There was no squeaking, no jarring string, no fuzzy breathing, no rattling stops; but pure melody, flowing in its own invisible and impalpable channels.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, March 8, 1858

Pure melody, flowing in its own invisible and impalpable channels. See October 17, 1857 ("It is surprising . . . that so few habitually intoxicate themselves with music, so many with alcohol. I think, perchance, I may risk it, it will whet my senses so; it will reveal a glory where none was seen before. ");  January 27, 1857 ("Hear music below. It washes the dust off my life and everything I look at.")  and note to January 15, 1857 ("What is there in music that it should so stir our deeps? ")