The mystery that is music

   Music... It sure is a powerful thing isn't it? It's among the oldest of of arts. Humans have been tapping rhythmically on objects and humming the notes that blow through the trees since well before we evolved into our current state. Somehow simple notes strung together in a certain order can do everything from lower the heart rate of an individual person to spurring revolutions that change the world forever. Somehow the power of this most ancient of arts has shaped the world as we know it. The right tune can completely change a persons way of thinking. A mothers lullaby can stay deep within a child's mind and put a smile on his face every time he hears the song again, or even if a few notes from it blow through the air. Even if the song hadn't been sung to him in decades, the memory of music and a mothers voice stays with us forever. What is it that makes the beat of drums and an electric guitar so motivating to our bodies? Just why does the sound of the ancient Japanese koto harp relax us and whisk our imaginations away to far away lands? For such a long held practice among our species Its surprising how little we understand the mystic power that music holds.

  Music has changed the world in several ways. The best example I can think of is the Beatles, and the social revolution they started. In their time the way they looked was quite taboo and many record companies rejected them for it, assuming a bunch of kids with shaggy hair would never get anywhere. But how wrong they were in the end. They brought to this world a sound, the likes of which had never been heard before. And it absolutely exploded with popularity. Soon enough, it not only became accepted, but social standard to express yourself in new and unique ways. For once, No one minded if you didn't look just like them. That factor alone changed the world in who knows how many other ways. It's not too much of a stretch to say the Beatles are the reason I am able to write and share this blog today, rather than being beaten over the head with a bible over it, As would certainly have been the case in the 50's. So I have enormous respect for those four  young lads from Liverpool and everything they did for this world.

 As invigorating and upheaving as it can be sometimes, certain types of music can soothe and calm the soul like nothing else. I can get into a deep meditation so much faster listening to the beautiful and exotic melodies of the far east. It quiets the mind, calms the soul and puts my heart at peace with everything around me. Some songs go so far as to put me to sleep because they are quite frankly, overwhelmingly peaceful. The delicate sound of a woman's voice soothes me deeply regardless of the language. Perhaps that relates to hearing my mother sing to me when I was little that I am almost instantly comforted by such a sound. The little Mermaid hit the nail on the head, having a beautiful singing voice is easily one of the most attractive qualities by far. Just look at Susan Boyle, people only saw some fat lady with scraggly hair. But as soon as she opened her mouth people were absolutely in love with her, curious?...isn't it? 

   Music can also have negative effects as well however. Most people might automatically assume I mean the usually angry, blatantly violent and unruly rap genre. But People have used music to prepare men mentally for war for thousands of years. War music was in all cultures the only surefire way to get thousands of men ready to fight and kill so easily. In many ways music is almost a form of hypnosis. And while yes, many rap artists do produce many songs promoting anger, anarchy and hate there are more than a handful who simply enjoy the beat and how easy it is to improvise. For those people there is nothing wrong with it at all and like any other music it can motivate them, put a smile on their face and bring their hearts vivid memories of younger days. While the method may be different the purpose is the same, to bring joy into the world, and used like that it can be as pure and beautiful as any piece by Mozart.

   It changes every day, Music... and yet just the same we go over the same concepts over and over. Goodness knows how many love songs are out there, yet we never grow tired of them. There are only so many notes and frequencies the human ear is even able to pick up on. Yet somehow for tens of thousands of years we've been able to come up with more music that speaks to our hearts  in different ways the entire time. It is a beautiful and mystical thing that no one can quite explain. None of the other senses can be stimulated to quite the same varied and powerful effects as that of music to our ears, (hence the phrase). No smell, sight, taste, feeling, and not even the sixth sense can quite compare. they say the eyes are the window to the soul. So perhaps the ears are the door? Whatever your beliefs on that, Music will always be a part of our lives and we will continue to treasure it, and admire those who are gifted enough to make it. Even many of our brothers in the animal kingdom make and enjoy music of their own. The wind, the trees and the water provide their own melodies as well. So perhaps the mystic power music holds, is that in a way it represents the essence of life itself. There may be reasons far beyond our understanding that music has been in the world since time immemorial. It is timeless, ageless, boundless and is among the most influencing things we will ever know, and the world is what it is because of it. Music will never cease to change the world, and its reach may extend far beyond this little blue and green gem we call home someday. I only lament that i will not live long enough to see for myself how it will grow and change in that time...