Music, Music, And More Music; The Power of Music From Universal Language to Worldwide Context guest written by Eddie

Introduction To The Power of Music

What is Music?

To know what it is, we are required to understand what the designation of music is. Music is a vocal or instrumental sound to form a harmony and expression of emotion. Music has always been and still is one of the greatest heritages that we have as human beings. That’s the reason why people called it the universal language of humankind.

No matter where we are, music is always there around us, and that shows how important music is for us human beings. Music is a vital part of different moments of human life. It spreads happiness and joy in a person’s life. Music is the soul of life and gives immense peace to us.

Music: The Essence of Life

The Universality of Music

In the words of William Shakespeare, “If music is the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die.”

Although it does not seem tied to the philosophy of the music of the spheres at first, Shakespeare used music to signify the supernatural and the strange, from fairies and ghosts to madness and love.

Shakespeare’s plays are awash with music. His characters make reference to music; singers and dancers regularly accompany the action on stage, and the Bard’s words themselves flow melodiously. At the same time, music was a vital part of Shakespeare’s theatrical practice. He made use of his company’s musical resources to include performed music in his plays, and his characters frequently sing and quoted popular ballads and songs that would have been recognized by his audiences.

Since his death, Shakespeare’s plays have served as inspiration for countless symphonies, ballets, and operas. As the modern musical theatre began to take shape, audiences were well-primed with an appreciation of the Bard’s masterworks and a respect for music’s potential to enhance the live narrative experience.

Thus, Music helps us in connecting with our souls or real self. The definition of music is very different to many people. Some say that music is the arrangement of sound and silence. Others like myself say music is that and much more. Music is an aural form of art that is used to express emotion and touch the hearts of the listener through the use of phrasing, dynamics, style, and tone colour. Music is a very universal art form. There are not many people in this world who do not listen to at least some form of music, whether it be pop or rock music on the radio. Music can help people in many ways.

Music is known to help people with memory and language problems by helping them remember and learning how to speak again. It can also improve your health and productivity, and it serves as a form of expression as well as a way for teenagers to understand and identify some emotions that they might be feeling. Listening to music is also good for people who are under a lot of stress so they can relax and sleep better. Music has great qualities of healing a person emotionally and mentally. Music is a form of meditation. While composing or listening to music, one tends to forget all his worries, sorrows, and pains. But, in order to appreciate good music, we need to cultivate our musical taste.

Music in Hindu Mythology

It can be cited that in the Dwapar Yug, the Gopis would get mesmerized by the music that flowed from Lord Krishna’s flute. They would surrender themselves to Him. Also, the research has proved that the plants which hear the Music grow at a faster rate in comparison to the others. It has the power to cure diseases such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc. The power of Music can be testified by the legends about Tansen of his bringing the rains by singing Raag Megh Malhar and lighting lamps by Raga Deepak. It also helps in improving concentration and is thus of great help to the students. Music is the essence of life. Everything that has rhythm has music. Our breathing also has a rhythm. Thus, we can say that there is music in every human being or a living creature. Music has the ability to convey all sorts of emotions to people. Music is also a very powerful means to connect with others. We can conclude that Music is the purest form to connect with our soul.

Krishna’s relationship with his flute is so unique that he is affectionately known by various names such as Venugopal, Bansilal, Murali, and Muralidhar, all of which reflect his profound connection with this musical instrument. Once, Krishna asked his devotees how they would like to see themselves in his hands. The bansuri is revered as Lord Krishna’s divine instrument and is often associated with Krishna’s Rasa Lila dance. These legends sometimes use alternate names for this wind instrument, such as the Murali. Often, the curious Gopis asked why Krishna held the flute dear. Krishna revealed that the seven notes in the flute represented the seven aspects of our being.

To become His flute, one must be empty and surrender everything, enduring life’s sorrows as holes in the reed. Krishna is the most important of the ten incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu. Here, he is shown with his characteristic flute, a symbol of his time spent as a cowherd. When he played his flute, the animals around would stand still and worship him, and the music would entice gopis (cowgirls) to come and dance with him. The ethereal, pure, and poetic sound of the flute is inextricably linked with mythical or spiritual figures and with death.

A further aspect of the flute’s symbolism is its portrayal of nature and rural life. This symbolism arose due to the instrument’s sound characteristics and its onomatopoeic nature. Perhaps the most famous story which surrounds Tansen is that when he sang Megh Malhar, the skies would pour with rain. His alleged wife, Husseini, is believed to have sung this raga as an attempt to save her husband as he was being engulfed in flames. His own version of the Malhar raga is known as Miyan ki Malhar.

What are the contributions of Tansen?

Tansen composed several ragas, including Bhairav, Darbari Todi, Darbari Kanada, Malhar, Sarang and Rageshwari. These are all considered the foundation of classical music. In fact, every school of music that exists today in India tries to trace its origin back to him. The moral of the story can be understood in three parts. The first is the importance of understanding your skill and honing it. Since Tansen was not a natural singer, Swami Haridas’s training honed his existing skills of imitation to something more melodious.

The second is to trust your talent. Tansen is remembered as one of the greatest musicians of all time in India. His contributions to Indian music have been recognized with numerous honours and awards. There are several music festivals and competitions named after him, including the Tansen Samaroh held in Gwalior every year. Tansen went on to become even more popular for his music. He had given an excellent display of talent as well as wisdom. The Emperor punished the courtiers who had devised the plan, and he honoured Tansen by keeping him in his court until the day the great musician died in 1585.

Thank you to Eddie, aka Garfield, for guest-writing this article about The Power of Music. Check out more of their work at Art Fight!