A lot of words are thrown around when defining what music is. This question specifically is one that many people seem to have a lot to say about, yet doesn't give us much of a true explanation as to...well what it is. Simply typing in the phrase "What Is Music" into Google.com will give you about 8.5 BILLION results, all with different theories, explanations, analysis, and opinions on the matter, (hell, there may be a few porn links thrown in there too. It IS Google after all).
Well first let us look at where the english word "Music" comes from.
The term"Muse" was the name for the Greek Goddess of the inspiration of literature, science, and the arts. Mousa is a common noun in Greek meaning, "Art" or "Poetry".
This gives us the first elements in what is now known as music: Art, Literature/Poetry, and Science. We can assess modern music using these three elements and understand it pretty thoroughly with these ancient understandings of what Muse was made of.
Art
Art is the most commonly associated format music is presented in, in contemporary times. Naturally, songs are composed as a form of expression, a more physical way to recite and preform our own emotions. Like visual art, music derives from some form of inspiration, and as a result it can give off inspiration to others. Music often accompanies other forms of art to further enhance what a viewer/listener receives from the piece. Dance, Film, Still images, and Street performances are just some of the few forms that music often enhances with its presence.
The inspiration and kind of art that music creates varies from a street performer strumming an acoustic guitar to a small venue where the audiences flails and dances to the sound of blaring punk guitars, to a small gazebo where a piano is manipulated when someone is peacefully alone, to a blaring horn arrangement in a modern blockbuster movie soundtrack, to a super star pop princess singing to thousands of adoring fans. It's safe to say music is an inspiring art form that hits all of us.
Here is a great example of music having a moving effect on a crowd.
Literature
Back in the older days of music, essentially two forms truly existed. The common man folk music and the elaborate operas of what is now considered "classical music". Both forms inherited words to match the moods set by the music from their composers, and we call these "lyrics". Contemporary music typically follows the examples set in folk tunes, specifically those from ragtime and blues music. While the general public may define music as not a form of literature (and with possible good reason) it is hard strung not to find someone who has not been moved by the words in a song.
A classic tune, following a progression that is found in many songs made today.
In the modern music industry, many musicians and musical performers have people specifically write them words for the songs they recite. Some musicians even write their own words to their music, commonly referred to as "singer songwriters" and those people are some of the most admired in the industry. One of the many standards The Beatles brought to the table was for the musician/band to write their own words to their music, a standard that is upheld to this day by many acts across many genres. Some of the most admired singer songwriters came from the wake of The Beatles and that kind of musicianship had a bit of a renaissance in the 1970s with acts such as Simon & Garfunkel, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Lenard Cohen, and Nick Drake.
A very underrated artist who passed away far too young in 1974
It is obvious music is used as a voice not only for the singer, but for the speaker as well. In the late 70s, the oppressed african youth were heavily involved in the slam poetry scene which migrated into musical territory when they began being recorded with musical backdrop. This evolved into one of the most lyrical based forms of music, Rap. Rapping is commonly used over Hip Hop beats (a genre inspired by a fusion of Soul, Funk, Disco, House, Electronica, Rock, Blues, and even Jazz), and has become arguably the most successful way for poetic reciting to be successful in todays society.
Kanye West is one of the most critically acclaimed rap artists in history. Is that John Legend on piano in the back!?
Science
Science is the root of everything in the known universe. Sound is nothing but waves that are picked up by your ears, correct? Music comes in when sound is purposefully arranged to stimulate the senses.
Virtuosos of a particular instrument may preform maintenance on their said instrument, maintenance that seems so petty it may seem confusing as to why they waist their time doing it. A guitarist may polish their strings or a brass player may keep their instrument's case insulated so it doesn't become too cold...but why?
It is simply a matter of how the physics of the instrument works. Everything from temperature to cleanliness of the instrument can affect its tone, and if not maintained correctly this can have detrimental results to what the performer is trying to express. There's science behind every note played, and every wave of sound you pick up, thank the audio engineers that produce and mix your favorite album for having it sound as good as it does.
Music can be neatly defined with what the goddess Muse represented to me, covering three points that I personally find critical to what makes music, music. I'd love your feedback and comment on what you think music is to you! Leave me an email to the right or send me tweets and facebook comments.
- Miles Taylor Winchester, The Citrus Sawtooth
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