I was really disappointed when in class we didn’t get to discuss the relationship between music and culture a bit more. As a musician, and an Artist in general, music is incredibly important to me. I’m a vocalist, a violinist, and have in general a very emotional connection to music.
Music is the voice of mutual understanding that speaks when language and cultural barriers hinder. Even if we don’t all speak the same language or believe the same things, or think about things the same way, we all respond similarly to certain types of music. We can hear a song, and we don’t just hear the melodies and harmonies, we also hear the emotion pounded into the notes themselves that we can relate to on a personal and emotional level.
Let’s look at this, for example. Italian composer, and from a different time besides. Does any of that matter when you listen to the joy in these notes? It’s spring and all is well! Butterflies flittering, birds singing! You don’t need to know anything about anything to appreciate the emotion here. And that is just about the coolest thing ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pVS4sVZiec