Music has the power to evoke many different feelings in its audience; from making people happy or sad, or even angry. Music also helps individuals relax, as well as relieve physical ailments.
Some philosophers have speculated on the nature of music. Platonists, such as German astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), attempted to link musical rhythm with planetar movement.
Origins
Music has played an essential role in human society ever since prehistoric human rituals and communal gatherings began, when humans first used voice-based and body percussion forms as well as various instruments to express themselves musically.
Religion has long been at the core of musical traditions throughout history, from Indian classical music influenced by Hinduism and Five Classics of Confucianism, to medieval Europe’s Gregorian chants which combined devotion with entertainment while troubadours and minstrels entertained nobility as well as common folk with tales of courtly love.
Music derives its name from the Greek term msica, which translates as ‘art of the muses’. According to Greek mythology, nine muses existed: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Euterpe (double-pipes and music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (hymns and sacred music), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy).
Forms
Musical forms occur when a piece of music can be divided into identifiable sections that differ in melody, harmony, rhythm or texture. Analyzing a piece by recognizing its sections provides a great way to gain more insight into its musical form.
Binary Form: Binary form (also referred to as A and B form) consists of self-contained sections that alternate or repeat themselves, making for a common pattern found in pop and dance music songs.
Ternary Form: Ternary form is a musical structure in which an A section contains repeated or similar themes while its B section offers contrast, most commonly found in classical but also popular music genres.
Polyphony: Polyphonic music refers to any style in which multiple melodic lines chime simultaneously at staggered intervals, creating interesting and stimulating results. As opposed to strict imitative polyphony where melodies copy each other exactly, in polyphonic music the sounds differ considerably, producing very engaging results.
Characteristics
Music can be evaluated on many levels: its composition can appeal to the mind, emotions and spirit. Melody or lyrics might be clear or mysterious. Additionally, beats, rhythms or textures might create energy or soothe.
Melody is at the core of most modern songs. Lyrics provide depth to each message presented through song; sometimes even telling an engaging narrative that speaks directly to listener emotions.
Music’s rhythmic vocabulary has grown more diverse and unpredictable over time, including various beats, meter variations, rhythmic repetition, accented beats at unequal time intervals and accented beats in unison with rhythmic beats at unequal times intervals.
Modern composers create new harmonies by employing chordal structures not based on traditional triads, and melodies without specific scales or tonal centers; often creating melodies with wide leaps between pitches that make listening to contemporary melodies even more unpredictable and intriguing.
Effects
Music can have an enormous effect on our thoughts and emotions. Listening to music may activate different brain structures responsible for thinking, sensation, movement and emotion as well as activating our relaxation response mechanism; helping reduce muscle tension while providing a sense of serenity and relaxation.
Experience or anticipation of music can stimulate our pleasure centers and cause the brain to release dopamine, which acts as a neurotransmitter that makes us feel good. Anticipation of hearing one of your favorite songs, the crescendo of an awesome rock anthem or that spine-tingling drop from a dance track can provide us with an unforgettable pleasure-driven moment.
Music can also engage associative memory, stimulate cognitive skills and build task endurance. However, music that glorifies or promotes drug use or violence through lyrics may be harmful.
Music’s emotional impact depends on our culture, past experiences and associations with certain sounds. Berkley’s Interactive Music Map illustrates this relationship by showing how different songs affect our emotions in various ways; ultimately it’s up to each individual to select music that suits their mood and emotions best.