What is called music?

[CMcG]

I'm looking to get some opinions about music. My existential philosophy professor has asked me to write my final paper on the subject of "what is called music?"

Let's start from something really broad: music is sound organized by the action or perception of human beings. Beyond that though, I'm thinking there is something more to music... let me know what you think and all perspectives are welcome. Is there a specifically Celtic point of view on this?

What is music?

[Biathlonman]

When I studied at the University of Toronto, I learned that ancient philosophers had plenty to say about music. An eminent political philosopher teaching there at the time, Allan Bloom, hated modern rock, but liked the classics. You may wish to cite the views of those philosophers who've looked at this before, like Plato and Socrates.

Bear in mind as well that the Greeks were the first to call the Celts - "Barbarian" a moniker the Romans adopted. It could be the only whistles either heard were from swords trying to remove their heads.

Celtic music today - Irish, Scots, Breton, Galician - is closely related - the first two especially. Breton pipers play simpler, less adorned tunes. Scots seem to prefer reels to jigs. (a piper would know better) Violin styles are different too, but discernible only to experts.
The late Jacob Bronowski is someone you should read - he had plenty to say about music.
Someone once said "music is like a legal drug." Worth quoting.
Good luck.

[Lyle1]

I think that question would vary significantly from one culture to another. For example, music in western cultures is based on a different scale (is that the correct word) than music in the far east. People from one culture might realize that they are hearing the music from another culture, but they probably would not be quick to recognize the patterns, and it would certainly not be part of their learned heritage.

On the other hand, maybe music could be universally defined as sounds (usually with some pattern, i.e., tempo, pitch, volume, etc.) that are pleasing to at least some people and which, for whatever reason, have some meaning to those people. The sounds might be simply soothing, they might be meaningful to them in some way. Some sounds remind us of people, places, events, or feelings, and they can, in turn, evoke feelings within us, even if at an unconscious level; the reaction of individuals to a particular piece of music will vary in the same way and for the same reasons that apply to all symbolism. Hearing music can even affect physical actions; people move mover quickly when they hear music with a quick tempo than when they hear slower paced music. Slow soothing music is often played in stores to get customers to linger.

Or maybe music is simply whatever a person says it is for him!

[CMcG]

Thanks Lyle1. Would you care to elaborate a bit?

I think that question would vary significantly from one culture to another. <snip>

Hence why I'm soliciting responses about a possible Celtic perspective from the members of a kilt forum. It is more than likely, though, that people will have a culturally hybrid point of view...

<snip>
Or maybe music is simply whatever a person says it is for him!

So what is it for you?

[Lyle1]

What is music for me? I don't know; I haven't really thought about it. I wrote my final paper for Philosophy class on the premise that Plato contradicted himself in one of his works; that was easier than defining music.

As to cultural differences, I think it comes from historical experience. As I said, western music and eastern music don't use the same scale. Obviously, that is something that was passed down through the generations, and each culture came to know its own form as standard. The same principle would probably apply to differences between smaller cultures in both the east and west.

To understand the Celtic perspective on music, you would could look for clues in many elements that we associate with Celtic music. What instruments are commonly used, and why did they become popular? Are any of the instruments unique to Celtic music, and why did the Celts adopt some instruments that can be found in other, older cultures (i.e., bagpipes). What purpose did Celtic music serve, historically? Was it used in ritual; was it used in battle to frighten the enemy; was it used for entertainment? Was music a way of remembering Celtic history? What themes are common in Celtic verses that are sung? Are there common rhythms, and is there any perceivable reason for their adoption? Why did isn't there a Celtic symphonic tradition (both in the music that was written and the development of orchestras), as there is in most of Europe?

You are exploring the meaning of music for a philosophy class, but it would also be an appropriate topic for an anthropology class!

[robbiethepiper]

I struggled to believe it, but was once told, in all seriousness, that pipers were not permitted to join the musicians' union a hundred or so years ago on the grounds that bagpipes were not considered to be musical instruments but "weapons of war" There are some non-celts who would agree today....

[Duncanofcolorado]

Here is my take on the subject.
Music evolved from sound. Before there was communication there was sound.
Man made sounds before he could talk. He communicated with sound.
Use your imagination. He banged a rock. He grunted. He splashed water.
He heard life around him make sound.Thunder, the sound of rain, the animals etc.
Man began to talk. Man made sounds that he put together to make all that became the elements of music: rhythm, harmony, melody & dynamics.
In my opinion, music is one of the most wonderful creations of man although the animal kingdom did it first.

[auld argonian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnwOE_44D9M

...damn...Sid Ceasar was in good shape for an old man, innit?

Best

AA

[Chirs]

What school of philosophy are you using? The Anglo-American School tends to see knowledge as the meeting point between belief and truth and, as such, they posit the true existence of music; their philosophy would be an exploration of this truth. Conversely, the Continental School would take more of a culturally dependent approach and suggest that music is, as Lyle1 has said, "whatever a person says it is for him." Your query suggests a cultural basis but your insistence on "what it is" smacks of 'the truth' so I am a little confused as to how to be of assistance. Can you clarify?

[CMcG]

<snip> Can you clarify?

The course is about the influence of Asian philosophy on existential phenomenology. My prof understands that my doctoral work is in ethnomusicology (the study of music and culture) but is trying to steer me towards a more philosophical paper.

Asking "what is called music" will lead me to language and all manner of cultural issues. In order to avoid turning this into an ethnomusicology paper I'm going to try looking at some etymologies and what the ancients have to say about music: Pythagoras and Lao Tzu, amongst others.

Then I can tackle "what is music" to determine its ontological characteristics as a phenomenon. As far a modern school of thought goes, I'll probably be drawing on Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology.

Does that help?