One might ask what is music, where does it come from and what is its objective? We can see by the definitions below of music, sound, and communication, that these are all factors that work together to create something beautiful. They are all abilities given to us by our creator and all used to interact with another living being, whether it is God, human beings, or animals. Music is a powerful art form that communicates without words, yet it is a language of its own. Leo Samama said, “Music is transformed into such a remarkable phenomenon through a combination of faculties: the mathematical qualities of an architect, the abstract thought of the philosopher and the communicative gifts of an orator.”
The definition of music is: The science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity; vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds usually having rhythm, melody, or harmony; an agreeable sound. The definition of sound is something that is heard; a noise; a particular auditory impression: tone; the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing; mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (such as air) and is the objective cause of hearing. The definition of communication is: An act or instance of transmitting; information communicated, information transmitted or conveyed; a verbal or written message; a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.
Music is vibrations transported through time, and at the point at which they arrive at our ears, they are interpreted as sounds. They have different tones and travel at differing speeds but put together in a way that is pleasing to the composer of a piece, these in turn form the rhythm, melodies, and harmonies of what then is traditionally called music or a song. It speaks to us both spiritually and physically. Where did it come from? Leo Samama asks, “Did music exist before language or did music emerge out of language?” The answer is not really shown in research, but what it does conclude is that in all forms it has been linked to communication. No matter your style preference, it is beautiful, ethereal, and captivating.
There are two categories in which music can fall under, non-verbal and verbal. Non-verbal meaning without words in any given language learned and spoken by mankind, and the verbal meaning that there are lyrics that will tell a story of some type and be in a known decipherable language. Yet both do speak volumes to us in their own way. The non-verbal message comes from things like the human voice, rhythm, and instruments. There are three features that comprise the Human Voice: the vocal folds within the larynx, the articulators, and the lungs. These comprise the inbuilt sound production studio that generates all noises that are heard by the ear, crying, laughing, singing, screaming, or just grunting. The lungs, like a pressure pump, produce and force air through to the vocal folds (cords) and they in turn break up the air as it flows through, and create vibrations that we translate into sound. The muscles of the larynx can adjust the tone and pitch by length or tension applied. The articulators consist of the tongue, palate, cheeks, lips, etc., and they articulate and filter the sounds to varying degrees of loud, soft, clear, or muffled. Physiologically, the voice can be higher or lower depending on the size of the body and vocal tract, which is often, but not always indicated by gender. It is evident that the Human voice is an instrument within itself and if so, one of the first audible to the human ear.
Rhythm is an ordered recurrent alternation of strong and weak elements in the flow of sound and silence in speech; the aspect of music comprising all the elements (such as accent, meter, and tempo) that relate to forward movement. Rhythm along with harmony and melody make up the components of music. Rhythm is most often built into our DNA but can also be taught. A metronome, drum, clapping, other human body movements, maracas, toe tapping or strumming a guitar can be ways to create an even, consistent beat, which would produce the tempo that a composer might want his song to portray. This can all be done without words and convey certain messages depending on the speed and loudness of the rhythm that is being created.
Instruments of hundreds, maybe thousands of varieties have been made by man to replicate the sound of the human voice. If you have a keyboard for instance, you can play three notes, the one, three and five chords in the enharmonic scale and create harmony, which is equivalent to three voices making a melodic sound in tandem. History shows that instruments date back to the beginning of time and were used in religious ceremonies, social rituals, and entertainment. They could be used to signal danger, or to indicate the beginning of a hunt. Instruments have been made from the crudest to the most luxurious materials over the years and have evolved in the quest of finding the best way to imitate natural sounds. The instruments in history are considered ‘primitive’ or ‘pre-historic,’ yet they are the innovative ideas that lead to the refined, beautiful works of art we have today that break forth in breath taking harmonies.
Verbal messages on the other hand come from things like poems, stories, metaphors, or lyrics specifically meant to be a song. A poem is: a composition in verse: a piece of writing that usually has figurative language and written in separate lines that often have a repeated rhythm and sometimes rhyme. Many may not be familiar with the song called “Anacreon in Heaven,” Ralph Tomlinson wrote the lyrics, between 1744 and 1778 and in the 1770’s the music for it was composed by John Stafford Smith, who was a part of a gentlemen’s club for amateur musicians in the Eighteenth Century. Tomlinson was inspired by a Greek court poet Anacreon of the Sixth Century, known for his poems of wine and love. After the War of 1812, on September 14, 1814, a poem was written called “Defense of Fort M’Henry” by Francis Scott Key. He was a young lawyer and an amateur poet. His brother-in-law Judge Joseph H. Nicholson noticed that the words of his poem would fit nicely to the tune of “Anacreon in Heaven” and so it was printed. It officially became the American National anthem, on March 3, 1931, by an official congressional resolution and we now know it as “The Star Spangled Banner.” This is how poems can become music and music communicates to and through a nation.
A story is: an account of incidents or events: a statement regarding the facts pertinent to a situation in question: an amusing one: a fictional narrative shorter than a novel: the intrigue or plot of a narrative or dramatic work. Often short stories also known as ballads will be put to music to create a song. Unlike a poem, this will tell a story from start to finish and is presented in a musical format. An example of this would be, Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” This is a sad song about unhappy people, caught in a rut in their lives. As the story goes, it’s a Saturday night in a bar; Those mentioned in the lyrics amongst “the regulars” are an old drunk man, who is pining for his younger days, John who seems to be kind, but the clown of the outfit but not happy as he speaks to Bill the listener of the bunch, Paul is a single real estate novelist workaholic, Davy who is stuck in the Navy for life, a waitress who’s just glad for company even if it’s the drug addict-businessman and the bar tender. The bar tender is the only one thrilled because he has a good crowd, but still knows they have come to hear the piano man and not to see him. The piano man is obviously in the same predicament as they are, because they allude to the fact that he is so talented that he should be elsewhere making a better living for himself. They all want him to play so they can drown out their miserable realities if for just a night. They will do this again, week after week, because they are called “regulars.” These sad, almost awful human conditions are often written about and masked in a rhythmic, bouncy tune and the listeners do not always grasp the degradation or despair that is being portrayed. The question could be asked, are the listeners really listening; they are hearing the sounds but not the content. Often even when we speak people are listening but not hearing. Has someone communicated until their message has been heard?
A metaphor is: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in ‘drowning in money’); figurative language; an object, activity, or idea treated as a metaphor. Here are a few that may strike a chord: Garth Brooks song, “The Dance” says, “Our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain, but I’d have had to miss the dance.” Referring to life, he is saying that to experience the good in life, you will have to take the bad as well. “Titanium,” co-written by Sia, David Guetta, Giorgio Tuinfort and Nick Van de Wall says, “Ricochet, you take your aim, Fire away, fire away, you shoot me down, but I won’t fall, I am titanium.” They are showing that she, the subject of the song, will not be knocked down, no matter what is thrown at her because she is as strong as one of the strongest metals. Similes and other forms of figurative speech are also used in song writing to prove a point, to show comparison or to embellish the message.
Lastly there are lyrics specifically written and meant to be a song from its inception. In this scenario a singer/songwriter could sit down with their instrument and write lyrics and music together. Sometimes they will write the music first or they may have a tune that has been on their mind, and they put words to it or vice versa, they will have words they have written and sit down and put the music to them. They can be a ‘lone wolf’ so to speak, but often they collaborate with others until they produce something with which they are pleased. They write it, sing it, have it produced, and we then later hear these tunes on the radio and if it communicates to us personally, the consumer will go and purchase a personal copy, so it can be played repeatedly. The songwriter is counting on their piece communicating with the masses. It not only gives validity to what they are doing as an artist, but it is often their sole livelihood.
As we can see in this quick study, there is no way to ‘pigeon hole’ music. We could discuss and debate it for days without exhausting the subject. One thing that we can agree on is that it is a tool that can be used in every situation of life. We as Christians are encouraged to use this tool, with and for others, and when we are all alone. Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” It has the power to change things.
We used to sing a chorus that went like this, “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy, and when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I, that is higher than I.” Would you agree that these are powerful words? It is because this is not just a song, but it is the word of God, taken from Psalm 61:1-3. I encourage you to try this for yourself. Take the time today to encourage yourself in the Lord through song, and He will lift you up.