Whispers Of Melody 

By : Niquita and Princess

Music, we say the word every day, multiple times a day, but what does it actually mean and where does it come from? We delve into what music essentially is, and what the fundamental meaning of music has been for humanity across the ages.

Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “it is not easy to determine the nature of music or why anyone should have a knowledge of it” – so abstruse its origins and true meaning are.

It doesn’t serve a literal function in sustaining life in the way that, say, eating, sleeping and breathing does. But as far as any of us can tell, music is – and always has been, always will be a fundamental part of being human. And maybe human life actually couldn’t exist without it.

There is no known human society today, or in all of history, that hasn’t produced music in some form. It’s as integral to human expression as language is. As breathing is.

Scientists, philosophers, poets, writers and artists of all kinds, from William Shakespeare to Albert Einstein, have paid tribute to music throughout history.

Keep Your Brain Young with Music

If you want to firm up your body, head to the gym. If you want to exercise your brain, listen to music.

There are few things that stimulate the brain the way music does. If you want to keep your brain engaged throughout the aging process, listening to or playing music is a great tool. It provides a total brain workout.

Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory.

What are the main elements of music?

When humans organise sound into what we discern as music, the key elements are rhythm, melody, and harmony.

Rhythm refers to a repeated pattern of sound, which remains constant over a set period, and often uses a single pitch. In modern music, rhythm is often provided by drums or percussion instruments, and by bass instruments which produce low frequency pitches.

A melody is the tune; the main part of the music that our ears pick up and we hum (sometimes subconsciously!). Think of your favourite song. Now hum it. What you’re humming is the melody – the single line of pitches with which you can identify a particular song or piece of music.

Sometimes it is useful to think of melody as the linear, or horizontal, way the music progresses.

Harmony, in direct contrast, is the vertical way the music is constructed. Harmony is dictated by what chords the music is built from, and chords can be understood as combinations of notes played at the same time, derived from all of the major and minor scales. Specific chords, and chord progressions, form the keys in music.

Has music ever been banned?

Given its potent intersection with, and ability to drive, social evolution and cultural revolution, some music has been viewed with suspicion by those in power.

Although music is integral to human existence, it has for this reason been banned and censored throughout history.

Beyond its artistic value, music possesses remarkable healing properties for both the mind and body. Music therapy has emerged as a powerful tool in treating various mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Studies have shown that listening to music can reduce stress levels, promote relaxation, and improve overall mood. Moreover, music has been found to enhance cognitive functions, such as memory and attention, offering a holistic approach to well-being.

“In the house of lovers, the music never stops, the walls are made of songs and the floor dances. Where words fail, music speaks.” — Rumi