Music with a capital 'M'

[euterpenc]

Music. What is it?

In my experience, I have found music to be an active force, almost autonomous at times which occurs spontaneously and is not under direct human control. Music as something that one comes into relationship to, something greater than the sum of its parts. Sometimes I wonder if Music in its truest forms is what some might call "God," in the sense of an autonomous, extra-human force.

However, I find humans to be necessary for the coming-to-pass of Music, of its actual manifestation or occurrence. Man as medium. The player as the instrument through which Music becomes actualized. The virtuoso player as one through which Music may occur most freely and without impediment, either from a technical or psychological standpoint.

Music requires silence to occur. Music, as sound, is born from silence. One cannot hear music if his/her head is wrapped up in other things. One must listen. Silence as stillness, of the mind, of the spirit. Ego has no place in music, though some players are fueled by it. The ego creates an opaqueness of spirit through which Music has difficulty passing, at least in my experience. There must be a "letting go" of self, and a "letting happen" of Music. A space must be opened up in which Music is to happen. A spielraum, a sacred circle, what have you. Robert Fripp has spoken of things like this in various interviews and writings, and probably others.

What do you think of this? Have you had similar experiences?

[Walalaaa]

I think music requires a dynamic balance between "letting go" and "paying attention". A balance between allowing and controlling. Simply letting go isn't enough, whether in playing or listening.

[stuck]

Sound is nearly religion to me. It's everything from immediate, ubiquitous meditation through the highest abstractions of my mind. I don't doubt that the driving forces of perception and creation would find another pathway if I were robbed of my ears, but I don't normally seek anything else. This is on purpose, so I can better dedicate myself to it.

Sound has saved my life repeatedly. I feel lost, like my life is a mistake and am full of regret. Then, I engage in the worship of sound and am given back my faith, deep faith beyond meaning, the joy of being alive and of perceiving.

[Ptah]

Music is rhythmical patterns of sound. Done.

All manner of mental weirdness can follow from listening to it, but that doesn't change what it is.

[Walalaaa]

Except there are many rhythmical patterns of sound that clearly aren't music.

[euterpenc]

Sound is nearly religion to me. It's everything from immediate, ubiquitous meditation through the highest abstractions of my mind.

Sound has saved my life repeatedly. I feel lost, like my life is a mistake and am full of regret. Then, I engage in the worship of sound and am given back my faith, deep faith beyond meaning, the joy of being alive and of perceiving.

This. Sounds like what I'm getting at.


Music is rhythmical patterns of sound. Done.

All manner of mental weirdness can follow from listening to it, but that doesn't change what it is.

Changing your comportment towards something changes what it is. Definitions can shape what is. I think this is a very narrow view of music, and really falls short of what music really is. Is the bubbling of a bog music? I might say it is. But things can be music even if there is no recognizable rhythmic structure. Also important, is that I think music is a human phenomenon, or one that at least requires human participation to come to pass.

Music is almost a sort of place, or perhaps a unique sort of occurrence that occurs when one is in a particular place or "state-of-mind."

[euterpenc]

Music as a "happening." Etc.:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ0_IlD7c14

Go to "Seven Assumptions For Work In The Circle." Something similar to what I mean about putting oneself in a "place" in which music is to occur:

http://www.dgmlive.com/diaries.htm?artist=&show=&member=3&entry=18310

[YHWH]

I just call it 'sounds', no need for capital letters, let bigots have their definition of Music.

[euterpenc]

I just call it 'sounds', no need for capital letters, let bigots have their definition of Music.

What have you. The actual name is not important. sounds sounds like it would work fine. I was trying to distinguish the particular experience/idea I had from other, perhaps more standard, ideas about it, e.g. Ptah's conception.

[bass_n_treble]

Yes, I like it too. Sometimes it moves me to tears, sometimes it makes me jump around like a moron, sometimes it makes me want to punch someone in the face. I don't see the need for all the flowery language though.

Music is like sonic architecture. Composition is the marriage of mathematics and aesthetics.

I would like to see statistics on the percentage of INTPs that play an instrument vs. the other 15 types.

[stuck]

I don't see the need for all the flowery language though.

Music is like sonic architecture.

mmmmmmmmmhmmmmm

[PenguinHunter]

I would like to see statistics on the percentage of INTPs that play an instrument vs. the other 15 types.

I'd guess below average because of the dedication factor.


As to music, from an anthropological standpoint, it's considered a cultural universal. Instruments may go back beyond 50,000 years and human created rhythms (+dancing) probably go back longer. Music was yet another means for ancient humanity to impose order on its surroundings. Given the spread, it seems reasonable to assume music is an evolutionary product. Dancing and music strengthen social bonds and improve an individual's effectiveness in manipulating the world around them. A society with music has more control of their world than a society without music and this control leads to greater success for the musical society.

The reason we like certain sounds and rhythms and dislike others has to do with our biology. We use pitches that don't damage or irritate our ears and we typically use rhythms influenced by the human heart and the human walking "rhythm."

[stuck]

The reason we like certain sounds and rhythms and dislike others has to do with our biology. We use pitches that don't damage or irritate our ears and we typically use rhythms influenced by the human heart and the human walking "rhythm."

and the natural range of the human voice.