MI: LIBRARY: THEORY: WHAT IS MUSIC?

What is music? The word is such a vague term covering everything from the whistle of a janitor to the beauty of Beethoven’s 5th. The American Heritage Dictionary describes music as “The art of organizing tones to produce a coherent sequence of sounds intended to elicit an aesthetic response in a listener.” True as that may be, does it really give the description music deserves?

To begin with, we know that music is an art, and there are facts to support that statement. To start, we must agree that an art is something specifically created to initiate an emotional response from the person(s) experiencing it.  Now because hearing is a sense, and music is something we hear, music is, therefore, an art.

Of course, music is much more than organized tones. Music is also the life work of many people. Music is hundreds of sound-producing devices. And music is and has been the initiative of tears and smiles since the birth of mankind.

But what characteristics must something hold to be considered “musical”? Must it be melodic? or could nails on a chalkboard be titled musical? Perhaps the term musical refers to something that merely grasps the attention of it’s listener through hearing?

Finally, is music always intending to “elicit an aesthetic response in a listener.”? Perhaps sometimes it is desired that music scare or anger the listener? Can’t music be a form of teasing or torturing its listener?

In conclusion, it is safe to say that the broad term music can be described in as many ways as a musician could perform a sonata. Maybe music isn’t meant to be explained. Maybe it’s just meant to be heard.

Continue to the Basics of Theory >>