Pablo Casals, a well-known cellist and composer who lived from 1876 to 1973, had a strong belief in the transformative power of music. Casals, who was born in Catalonia, Spain, has dedicated his life to promoting classical music as a life-improving art form in addition to performing.

Because it could express emotions and ideas in a way that words could not, Casals thought that music had a special place among the arts. Similar to a soft breeze whispering secrets to a flower, it was strong enough to cause it to sway and bloom in ways that words cannot. According to Casals, music transcends ordinary language and has a divine quality that is not necessarily religious but rather spiritual.

His experiences performing throughout Europe and America while playing the cello led him to hold this belief. He personally witnessed the power of music to unite people in trying times and provide comfort when words could not. In an effort to promote cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, he founded the Puerto Rico Music Festival in 1957 as a result of his support for musical peace.

Casals's idea that music is a divine medium for communication is consistent with his larger belief that art is vital to society because it unites people's hearts and minds across boundaries and cultural boundaries. Similar to how water fosters life wherever it flows, music has the power to uplift the spirit and foster empathy and harmony among various social groups.