Music is an artistic and expressive manifestation that consists in the arrangement and organization of different sounds that form a pleasant sound continuity to the human ear.
Music is capable of generating everything type of thoughts Y emotions in the individual, which makes it one of the most diverse arts. It has evolved so much, as far as gender and types are concerned, that trying to classify them would be a very arduous job.
However, music has formal bases that are fulfilled in all its different manifestations, and are what make it precisely that, in music. The simple sound exhibition without any kind of order can not be considered music.
The notions around music are subjective, which means that not every individual prefers the same music, or some genres are capable of generating rejection in their listeners.
Main characteristics of music
Sound
Sound is a physical phenomenon that makes music possible. These vibrations in waves that propagate through an elastic medium such as air are those that give rise to all the ordered and compound phenomena that will eventually result in a piece of music.
Throughout history man has encountered a large number of sounds that he has been able to control to his liking, giving each one expressive intentionality, so that some sounds tend to be more pleasant to the ear than others.
In music and in its development, even natural sounds have become a crucial part of the sound construction of a piece of music.
Harmony
Harmony is also considered as one of the fundamental elements for musical education. It consists of the arrangement and sound ordering, according to the intentions of the composer or director of the piece of music.
Through harmony, music is able to express ideas that will later be complemented by other elements.
Harmony varies according to the musical genre, and has evolved in concert with music and man. Even the most modern musical manifestations have harmony.
Melody
The melody can be defined as the sound capacity of an instrument, the result of its execution by a musician. Of Greek origin, means to sing or make sing, therefore it can refer to the phenomenon of playing an instrument through its execution.
Like the harmony, the melody fulfills certain compositional intentions, which according to what one wants to express, would lead the musical composer to prefer certain tones over others when assembling the musical composition.
Rhythm
The rhythm in the music refers to the tones and their repetitions, and how they unfold throughout the piece.
A piece of music must maintain a rhythm from beginning to end and even if it changes, it must do so in a way that is not discordant. The absence of rhythm in music is one of the most perceptible aspects an individual can feel.
The rhythm varies fundamentally according to the musical genre that is executed, but it has always been present. The historical manifestation of new musical genres has given rise to new rhythms and even to the fusion between them.
Tone
The tone is the frequency with which the sounds are emitted. From these frequencies are built combinations that are constructed from keys, also known as musical notes.
The selection of one tone over another responds to the intentions of the composer and his harmonic capacity within the rest of the piece of music.
The tones also vary according to the instruments and the sound frequencies they are capable of emitting. Some may even seem similar, but all are able to provide a different shade to the whole set of the piece of music.
Musical genre
As in other arts, but with much more variety, music has a large number of genres that have developed (some even disappeared) and that continue to manifest over time.
It can be said that a musical genre can be born in one piece, so influential that it generates a similar phenomenon of creation around it.
A musical genre is a classification or set of musical compositions that have certain qualities in common, with respect to their harmonies, melodies, rhythmic bases and even lyrics (where singing is present).
The importance and recognition of a genre is carried out through its instrumentation, function and even social historical context where it is developed.
Historically, around the genres have emerged macroclasificaciones that allow grouping the music with greater ease; and from these a large number of other subcategories emerge.
The genres arise mainly from the experimentation or fusion of previous musical manifestations, whose combination gives rise to a new musical discourse that can be disseminated and practiced for generations.
Cultural diversity
Music is closely related to the social and cultural context in which it originates. Music is able to reflect the idiosyncrasy of a cultural group, its origins and history, its perception of the world and even its discomforts and shortcomings.
Because of its expressive and cultural nature, music is able to bring different societies closer together through its pieces. What in form may seem different but shares a common ground can be exalted through music, culturally enriching and bringing together and competing groups and individuals alike.
From this same cultural foundation can be considered that the musical genres are born; each with its own history, originates in a small environment and is continuously evolving to the point of reverberating in all cultural corners of the world inclusive.
The direct ability of music to sensitize the human being makes it a vehicle that has been considered effective for reconciliation, recognition and cultural approach in the world, not only at present, but during different stages of history.
References
- Bonds, M. E. (2013). A History of Music in Western Culture. Pearson.
- De Candé, R., & Domingo, J. N. (1981). Universal history of music. Aguilar
- Díaz, J. L. (2010). Music, language and emotion: a cerebral approach. Mental health , 543-551.
- Hamel, F., Hürlimann, M., & Mayer-Serra, O. (1970). Encyclopedia of music.
- Morgan, R. P. (1999). The music of the twentieth century. Madrid: Akal Editions.