| Since humans first walked this Earth we have been | | | | The next level of musical recognition is the conscious |
| banging inanimate objects and noticing tonal harmonies | | | | awareness of the interval between certain vibrations |
| in all that we do. Music evokes such a deep rooted | | | | or frequencies. In other words the musical scale. It was |
| emotion in us, connecting with our inner being on an | | | | not long before humans realized that certain notes |
| infinite number of levels. | | | | work together and certain notes do not - harmonious |
| From the depths of depression to the awesome high | | | | sequences and discordant sounds. |
| of life itself there is a music which can touch us in a | | | | In fact, not all that long ago a discordant sound was |
| profound manner at every single step of the way. | | | | associated with the work of the devil because it made |
| Someone once said to me "I don't like music" ... I simply | | | | the listener feel quite uncomfortable. These days we |
| couldn't fathom this concept of actually not liking music. | | | | have moved on with many modern jazz musicians |
| I could obviously see how one could dislike a certain | | | | purposefully using discordant sounds - something which |
| type of music but to not like any music at all was a | | | | horrifies the purists. |
| totally alien idea to me. | | | | One level up from the musical scale is the combination |
| I was lucky I suppose, growing up, I was privy to the | | | | of many different types of musical instrument. This is |
| tastes of my "60's generation" parents and all that | | | | what we know today as pop music, orchestral music |
| hippy stuff, along with a fine selection of very early | | | | and many other genres. It pleases us when we hear |
| blues, reggae, jazz and some really raw grooves | | | | harmonious combinations of many different types of |
| which have all but been lost to our super fickle modern | | | | instrument. These chords and harmonious sequences |
| generation. In fact my Father owned one of the first | | | | connect with us at our most basic level. It is these |
| copies of the first 45 from a label named Chess. | | | | musical progressions which can evoke such strong |
| Worth a fortune now no doubt. Music has always | | | | emotions in all of us. |
| been a big part of my life. | | | | To this day, there are no generally accepted definitions |
| So why does music reach us at this most basic level? | | | | of this musical complexity at a logical and objective |
| What is it about the human being that makes us crave | | | | level. Many people report that when they hear a piece |
| this "soul food"? Well, music is a multifaceted means of | | | | of music they really like and which touches them |
| communication. It is possible through music to create all | | | | emotionally they will feel the hairs on their arms stand |
| the acoustic features that we use in our everyday | | | | on end. This is hardly a scientific observation but is one |
| language. Furthermore, these acoustic features can be | | | | of the only indicators we have telling us when |
| generated in a very definite way. This makes it | | | | somebody is emotionally moved by piece of music. |
| possible for composers to reach us at our most | | | | To be perfectly honest, maybe the scientists should |
| primeval state, simply by structuring the music | | | | just leave it alone - I believe some things were not |
| according to predefined patterns. | | | | meant to be explained. Music is music and it makes us |
| The most basic musical element that we respond to is | | | | feel the way we do because of some ancient |
| a rhythmical beat or pulse. If you need proof of this | | | | connection handed down from generation to |
| then notice how a newborn baby will begin to rock or | | | | generation. The best thing to do with music is just |
| move to the beat without prompting. This is the human | | | | enjoy it! |
| instinct naturally reacting to a rhythm, the roots of | | | | Without music the world would indeed be a very dull |
| which are deeply imbedded in all of us. This is the case | | | | place. |
| whether you like music or not. | | | | |