The Art of Music

Since I was born, one of the only things that never left my side was - music. The simple existence of it has greatly changed the trajectory of my life for eons. There are things I can remember just because of what music was playing during that moment in my life. There are also songs that speak for every emotion that humans can feel. And in this, I intend to share some of the beauty that it offers to us.

One of the best quotes of all time was an Egyptian/African proverb depending on who you heard it from was, "He who understands music, understands the cosmos." Though many people don't automatically understand the composition of music, there is still a way for people to understand the invigorative feeling of it, just by being able to listen to music. It is one of the most exquisite expressions of self; whether you make it or simply enjoy it.

A huge factor in music is the beat. This alone is generally what most people like in whatever genre they prefer most. Some time ago, I learned that the main reason people love the beat in music is because it is somewhat a mimick of the heartbeat. The first thing we hear when we are in the womb, is our mother's heartbeat. Life is the driving force for all things that we love & it presents itself in ways that can't organically be explained in general conversation. Isn't it amazing how interconnected & weaved life can be?

Notice that within all the different genres of music, there are a multitude of people who relate to it. Music connects us all through what we feel, especially in the given moment. If you ever listen to music from the 60s-70s era, you begin to observe how "in love" musicians were during that time period; most music from this time period expresses a love for another or the world as a whole. It has a certain closeness to it that most other genres today do not. If you listen to classical music, you begin to observe how mechanical music is, the basic building blocks of all other types of genres. Classical music is like an atom in physics, it is the building block that everything else starts off of. All this to say, that whatever music you listen to, has a much deeper meaning behind it than just your "likeness" of a song/album.

The music we have in today's society shows us a much different aspect of it than we have ever had before. We are able to sample & mix songs now, to convey a message in a much more unique way than once before. It can be said that today's music also lacks what we had in the past as well - the authenticity. Most musicians today sound very similar & convey messages that don't particularly give the listener a "newfound hope" like it used to. This is mainstream music I speak of, of course. However, it's a great thing that we are able to have our own "music apps" that allow us to listen to whatever music we want to at the click of a couple buttons. I can say assuredly, that is one of the pros of today's musical evolution.

Above, I give you the song "Swan Lake" by Tchaikovsky, a very well-known classical song which is also in the movie, "Black Swan (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre)". And I want you to do nothing, but simply listen to its' majestic instrumental melody with your eyes closed. 

The purpose of just listening to that song was to give you the idea of how music can make you feel. I'm sure what that song makes me feel will not be the same for who's reading this. Even without a singer being needed, the way that the instruments are used in this song, gives it a darker undertone than most classical music in general. It's still very "breezey" and calculated, it switches between soft & immersive. Just in this example, you realize that with every song there is a story that it tells. And this one, was perfect for the movie "Black Swan", indeed.

In conclusion, music is very determinant on how you feel & what you want to feel. It has a great deal to do with one's heart space, even if we may not regularly look at it in that way. Looking within the music you listen to, can help you determine how you're truly doing. There is music that I listen to when I'm happy, when sad, uncomfortable, among other feelings. If you start to look at music as a healing guide for yourself, it will be exactly that. Allow music to heal you & it will. You just have to find what "sings" to you.