Keywords

It seems that many of my posts over this class have revolved back to music, so I figured this topic would suffice:

Music

This Keyword originally derives from the Greek mousikē, which was any art presided over by the Muses. The original usage for the word was translated through Latin and French before the modern English form was used. As forms of entertainment through the arts were limited in Ancient Greece, the meaning of this general term grew into something completely unique during the course of history. Music has adapted and taken shape to every technological and cultural influence on Earth. It makes perfect sense that this word has evolved forward into the meanings it takes on today.

As I mentioned in a previous post, music is something that can unite a people on a huge level. The reason for this is due to the many traits taken on by music. The first one easily being the sounds produced by patterns of chords, rhythm, and melody. Chords are the qualities that give the sounds their own unique pitches, while rhythm contains the pulsating beat that drives the song. The melody is a series of harmonic tones that flow well with the rest of the natural “chord progression”. The placement of these tones is what helps us remember one song from another. The only thing left out here is the instrument itself.

Without some form of instrument, these intriguing auditory occurrences would be impossible. This is where music and globalization come together. The instruments used to produce music vary in infinite possibilities, largely relating to the region in which the music is being played. Whether it be the Indian sitar, the American banjo, or Chinese pipa, all of these instruments use plucked strings to produce unique tonal vibrations. Depending on the melodic form of a song, different emotions can be brought forth through music. This idea of feelings produced by music gives way for the other meanings of the word.

Music is used in modern conversation as a representation of the emotions behind the words themselves. Many have heard the phrase, “It was music to my ears”. Using music in this way is meant to represent happiness in a situation of pure satisfaction. Some might be told to “face the music”, in which they would be judged for a series of unwanted actions. The polarity of this statement can represent how musical feeling is developed on every level.

Music, like auditory speech, can be notated on paper. The interesting point here is that this word survives the transformation from auditory to visual form. Spoken word is changed into the world of writing and grammar when it is translated onto paper. Also known as sheet music, scattered circular markings across waves of lines dictates which specific notes are to be played. These lines can be read as increments of time, as the notes must be played in coordination with the beat listed on the first page. During the Renaissance, the time signature was determined by a single emotion; dictated at the top of the masterpiece. In our society, time is determined by a specific number. 120 beats per minute is known as standard time.

It is not out of the realm to say that music can associate with identity, culture, and globalization. The use of music in a specific country makes the people of that country unique. Each society on this planet has a musical history that has adapted to their surroundings; with instruments made from mother nature, and emotional sounds passed down for generations. For many, music has reached the limits of religion itself. The amazing thing about music is that no matter how torn apart the world may become, this auditory phenomenon is something that us humans relate to on a global scale.


Thanks for a great course,
Mike Greenwood

Sources:
Merriam-Webster and OED online Dictionaries
The UCLA Ethnomusicology Archives