[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Everything makes music; everything generates sound. Most of those sounds are beyond the normal frequency range of human hearing. In trying to reach a better understanding of why music works the way it does and how it achieves those effects, I have explored sound in general.
Music, in the most general definition, is organized sound. Melodies are sequences of single pitches, played individually through time. Harmony is the combination of multiple pitches, played at a single moment in time.
When those sounds are organized in certain ways, they have certain effects on the listener. These effects are different depending on the individual listener or receiver of the music. There are, however, general ranges of reactions created. There are sound combinations that evoke calm, peaceful feelings, sounds that agitate us, sound that make us sad and mournful, and on and on. These effects are universal, independent of what language or cultural differences exist.
In pondering how music/sound effects us, I was lead to consider the fact that we are surrounded and bombarded with sounds beyond our range of hearing. In ancient times it was referred to as the music of the spheres. In modern times, machines exist that capture the sound of quarks and other sub atomic particles as they wiz from one spot to the next. In essence, everything is making sound all of the time. We call it the universe, the “one-song” after all.
One of humanity’s greatest minds, Albert Einstein said “Everything is a vibration.” That means everything generates sound. Including us humans. I believe it is the reason music has such a powerful effect on us. It is more than just hearing music with our ears. We are vibrating as well and the music/sound that we perceive interfaces with our own vibration. So, not only do we experience music with our ears and our brains, we experience it on a molecular level.
Music is truly the universal language. It is one of the building blocks of the universe. It is something to be nurtured and cherished.
-Bill Gerhardt[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]