Music lives among all peoples and relates to the culture and dress of humans and reflects their way of thinking and vision of life. Therefore, it forms a unique identity for societies and plays a vital role in reducing the tendency of violence in communities. It also strengthens the links of interdependence and communication and elevates humans to the degrees of beauty, spiritual, and psychological peace and eternal tranquility. Music is an aesthetic state that gives joy to the soul and spreads joy.
Historical development of the word music through the ages
The original is music in English (music) and French (musique).
In general, music is defined as a set of melodies that get along with each other, forming a general structure called music. More precisely, it is the art of harmonizing and streamlining the melody within the musical context and balancing it simultaneously with silence and adherence to it over time or the specified period. This leads us to say that music is the sounds of humans, machines and things.
It is worth mentioning that we ask an important question:
What are the characteristics of sound?
- A layer of sound includes melodies and harmonies, i.e., hormonal chemistry.
- Rhythm forms the scale of the music. In the rhythm, it is determined when the musical tone ascends and descends according to the musical scale.
- Quality includes the quality of the melody bell, the decoration of the melody, the vitality of the melody, and the sweetness of the rhythm.
Let us now return to the history of the semantic development of the meaning, and of the word music. Although it takes a long time to explain this talk, we will present it to you briefly and concisely.
Scientists of the history of musical life believe that music is a word of Greek origin, and in ancient times it meant the arts in general. But later on, it became indicative of the art of melodies in particular, and the semantic interpretation of the meaning of the word music remained as the art of melodies for years.
From it, researchers in musical history deduced a broader and more comprehensive definition of music; it is an industry that relies on searching for the temporal and kinetic organization of the tones' consistency and alignment within a specific direction. They also sought to unify a general formulation in which the relationships between tones, weights, and timbres are organized in terms of their emergence, subsidence, rise and fall.
History of Music Performance Development
The art of composing has developed to a great extent and has become associated with music; we cannot make music without playing the instruments that emerge from its belly and strings make different sounds that collectively form what is known as music over time.
So, what are the most important musical instruments of all time?
- Machines from an organic source: human and applause.
- Wind instruments: such as flute and whistle.
- Stringed instruments: Most of them are of Western origin, such as violin, oud from an eastern origin and harp or oboe.
- Contemporary Electronic: Organ.
In fact, music in its various manifestations is not limited to playing an instrument, but also to drumming and hormonal music, as well as dabke episodes, ballet and Oriental dancing.
Any living thing, so long as it emits sound, is regarded as the source of music. In this sense, we can say that nature is a highly skilled and organized orchestra; Trees, water streams, rain, plants, and insects are nature's musical choirs. The sound of running water, birds chirping, rustling leaves, baby cries, squeaking doors, and a tap dripping all make music. The implication is that music can be heard everywhere you go and that you can distinguish sounds, understand their reality and source, and realize that music is the only beautiful substance that the entire cosmos is made of.
Origin of the Name
Historically, the word music is attributed to a muse of the fine arts and her nine sisters, whose names were collectively the word "Muses".
I think they were interested in poetry, art, music, dance and singing, and this is what Greek myths and legends told us. Later, the researchers developed the definition of music to conclude that it is a process that includes two systems; auditory and visual, and its function is to fit these systems and use them correctly. Some say that it is easily the art of translating sensation acoustically, as it is based on two basic pillars, namely, sound and ear, which are complementary factors to make the music process successful.
Evolution of Music History
There is no real and clear evidence about the emergence of music. Still, everyone believes it was created by the primitive man with his first step in life. The sound was a strange and incomprehensible mystery when the man made sounds he did not know or understand because of his ignorance and lack of knowledge of language and speech.
But the brain of the primitive man was recording every tone he heard and memorized in the form of files that he would not forget, such as the pigeons cooing, the frogs chirping, the sound of the dinosaur, the snake hissing and others. He imitated these sounds in his way without understanding what they were. The primitive man evolved until he clapped his hands, trimmed his nails, sawed wood, collected straw, sighed in tiredness and screamed in pain; all this gave him a stock of sounds that added to his auditory memory and saved it.
These were his first lessons in music without knowing that all these sounds are the music in one way or another, but he understood that he would hear these sounds wherever he went in nature, so he must fit in and be in tune with them, whether loud or soft, sharp or thin, comfortable or annoying, scary or joyful.
The development and expansion of music in the West
Music in European countries developed terribly; its appearance dates back to 500 AD, specifically in monasteries and churches, where hymns and prayers were common, and music flourished and took a new form.
We move to the post-nativity era, specifically between 1750 to 1800 AD, where music developed terribly and the emergence of symphonies. We moved to a new form of music known as classical music, and perhaps the most prominent pioneers, "Hayden" and "Mozart", have appeared in the neighborhoods of Western Europe. In the early nineteenth century in Europe, there was a new coup in the construction of the musical structure, and music shifted from classical to romantic, led by the genius "Beethoven".
New music appeared at the beginning of the modern era, such as jazz, in America and Africa which accompanied Africans when they emigrated, and music in the early nineteenth century was influenced by the literary and artistic movement prevailing in Europe, but the entire world witnessed an important development in the twentieth century in terms of music. The Opera House in Italy was opened in the Neapolitan school, which dates back to the eighteenth century. It must be noted that "France" was culturally open, as it embraced classical music, romantic music and ballet.
The role of music in the human body
Music is tones; that is, multiple, different and disparate sounds. When the human body receives these sounds from the external environment, it plays an important role in the nervous system; it calms and numbs the nerves; this causes a sense of relaxation and calm and gets rid of all the negative energy that comes from emotion and tension.
Music also plays an influential role in eliminating the feeling of pain. When listening to and enjoying music, the body makes natural antibiotics that help the nervous system to get rid of pain and disease, strengthens the immune and nervous system, and moves musical vibrations to the brain with antibiotics. Music prompts the brain to reduce density when concentrated through the secretion of chemicals that reduce pain density and then kill the feeling of pain.
The Role of Music in Mental Health
Music is a language that expresses emotions. It is the means through which a person expresses everything that he cannot convey in words; that is, it is an extension of the expression of his feelings, being, humanity and independence. For example, Beethoven created his third symphony in response to Napoleon's rule, his unjust wars and injustice; The response was in the form of an escalating stream of melody and a blatant deplorable melody of his actions and positions.
Ancient civilizations such as the Greek, Indian and Egyptian civilizations deepened in music and summed up its charm and fragrance; they incorporated it into religious rituals and the worship of the gods; therefore, they made it a rank by which they ascended towards sophistication, love and transparency.
It also took an additional dimension among the mystics, as it became attributed to them until it was called Sufi music, and they confirmed that it is a medicine for the soul, relaxation, sorrow, and the point of convergence of all humans on love, goodness, and light, that is, it is the common denominator among all humans of different races, spectrums, colors, religions, and beliefs.
Some see it as a source of inspiration from which to draw ideas and solutions, others see it as a path paved with light and love, and some believe that it is a medicine and a cure for many psychological problems; it relieves sadness, anger, tension, insomnia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and serious depression, It also empties repression and negative energy and adds to human life a strong and renewed emotional stock.
Benefits of Listening to Music
1. Music makes you happier
Scientific research and recent studies have found that listening to music causes happiness in humans because it induces the body to secrete a chemical called dopamine, which is transmitted to the brain as a neurotransmitter and produces hormones of happiness and high mood.
2. Music relieves fatigue and trouble
Listening to music, playing a musical instrument, or participating and working in the music field, makes you forget about fatigue and worry and keeps you comfortable and safe forever.
3. Music prepares a healthy environment and regular sleep for you
classical music brings relaxation, relieves routine fatigue and daily weight, and contributes to reducing work stress and daily burdens.
4. Music eliminates depression
People who listen to music daily are known to be cheerful and less depressed than others, and psychiatrists prescribe listening to music, meditation and classical music to depressed patients.
Music is almost the only language that reaches the hearts and minds of people without education, explanation or indoctrination. It is a rich material taught in schools, institutes and universities; because of its importance to the individual and society.
As we said, Music contributes to giving meaning to life, refining the spirit, giving it an additional dimension in the power of sense and emotion, and making it a gourmet of thought, love, art and knowledge. So, We need music in times of noise, conflict and moral decay.
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