music analogy

I've just thought of an analogy between printed music and 'the authoritative listings of acupoint indications in textbooks'. (I think this is the first time I've actually made use of being a musician for half of my life...)

A page of printed music records information that can be used by well-trained individuals to produce a musical experience.

A page of acupoint indications record information that can be used by well-trained individuals to produce a healing experience.

hmm...

I have a book called "American Ballads and Folk Songs" (John A. Lomax & Alan Lomax). I borrowed it from my father. When I found it I was so excited to be able to play traditional American folk songs! Unfortunately I found this not to be true...scanning through the book, I was only able to make music out of a limited number of tunes - all of which I was already familiar with. Was that because of my instrument? My stylistic background? Because I started with the recorded information and not with the musical experience? Or because I simply didn't give myself time to bring the information to life?

One of my former colleagues recounted to me one of the most moving experiences of her career - performing S. Barber's 'Adagio for Strings' soon after 9/11.