THE CONCEPT OF MUSIC (PART ONE)

The subject of music is a diverse and complex one. What is music? Music is a general melody of sounds that unify the mind and soul, not even language differences can stop music from reaching out to her selected audience. Even before recorded history, people created music, whether through drumming, singing or chanting. Some of our strongest emotions may be brought on by listening to a piece of music. In this modern age, we hear music around us almost all of our waking hours, in one form or another: radio, television or film music and our personal music (iPods, MP3 players, etc.) is with us throughout the day. Most of us listen to recorded music or go to performances regularly, and some of us play a musical instrument. Prior to modern audio recording technology, music was available only in the presence of a musician, or to those who played an instrument or sang.

Explications of the concept of music usually begin with the idea that music is organized sound. They go on to note that this characterization is too broad, since there are many examples of organized sound that are not music, such as human speech, and the sounds non-human animals and machines make. There are two further kinds of necessary conditions philosophers have added in attempts to fine tune the initial idea. One is an appeal to ‘tonality’ or essentially musical features such as pitch and rhythm. Another is an appeal to aesthetic properties or experience. This is really not a book on music theory but it wouldn’t hurt to share a little on the elements of music.

Elements of Music

Music is made up of many different things called elements. They are the building bricks of music. When you compose a piece of music you use the elements of music to build it, just like a builder uses bricks to build a house. Let’s learn what I consider the seven basic elements of any musical piece.

Duration: this means the length of each sound. Some sounds or notes are long, some are short.

Dynamics: this means the loudness and softness of the music. Sometimes this is called volume. Music often changes volume gradually and goes from loud to soft or from soft to loud.

Pitch: this refers to the highness or lowness of notes in the music. Most pieces of music use a mixture of high and low sounds. Some instruments, for example the tuba, can play very low notes, whereas smaller instruments, such as the piccolo, can play very high notes.

Silence: this is as important as sound in music. It gives time to think and for echoes to die away. It can be dramatic.

Tempo: this means the speed of the music, whether it is fast or slow. Does the music speed up or slow down or does it stay at the same tempo throughout?

Texture: this refers to how many layers or voices are in a piece. If there are a lot of instruments playing at once the texture is thick; if there are only one or two instruments playing the texture is thin. You can build up the texture from thin to thick, or reduce it from thick to thin.

Timbre: Every instrument has its own tone color or timbre. For example, a metal instrument sounds different from a wooden one, and hitting the skin of a drum sounds different from blowing a recorder.

That’s ok.  You can learn all of this and more from a good music book or attend a good music school. Let’s go a little deeper on our subject.

The recognition of music's relationship to the mind, especially on an emotional level, dates back to Ancient Greece. Plato postulated that music "gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything." Due to its emotional effects, music is often utilized for therapeutic purposes. For instance, during W.W.II it was shown that playing music for veterans could affect a person's mood, physical and emotional well-being, and movement, fears, and muscle tension. Music is indeed powerful!

Also, developing musical skills has been associated with enhanced spatial intelligence. The appreciation of music requires higher brain functions, and learning music can translate into increased skills in math. In brains of people with musical training, the area that connects planning and foresight, the corpus callosum, is larger. Since enhanced activity in this area of the brain is crucial for quick coordination, it makes sense that the corpus callosum is enlarged for musicians who must perform advanced musical compositions.

Music in the Bible

The first statement that we find in the Bible on any given subject usually has a foundational value. This seems to be true also in the case of music. Few generations from Adam and Eve, the Bible tells us that three sons were born to Lamech and his two wives, Adah and Zillah. Each son is introduced as “the founding father” of a basic professions. “Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. Zilla bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron” (Gen 4:21-22).

It is evident that these three brothers were the founding fathers of three different professions. The first was a farmer and the third a toolmaker. Both agriculture and industry are essential to human existence. Sandwiched between the two is the musical profession of the middle brother. The implication seems to be that human beings are called, not only to produce and consume food and goods, but also to enjoy aesthetic beauty, such as music.

Throughout the Old Testament, music was an important part of the worship of God (1 Chron 23:3-7).  Since the early Christians continued to worship in the temple and in synagogues, there is no reason to believe the historical musical heritage was abandoned in the early church. In fact, many hymn fragments can be identified in the New Testament text, suggesting that the early church relied on hymns and songs to help communicate the message of the Gospel, as well as to disciple believers in their faith.  As the Christian movement moved west through the Roman world, influences from other cultures increased. While the theological tenets would need to remain, the methodology would shift in accordance with local societies.

The importance of music in the Bible is indicated by the fact that God’s creative and redemptive activities are accompanied and celebrated by music. At creation we are told that “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). At the incarnation, the heavenly choir sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). At the final consummation of redemption, the great multitude of the redeemed will sing: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exalt and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to be clothed with the fine linen, bright and pure” (Rev 19:6-8).