What is the purpose of music?

[counterpoint]

The Chinese philosopher, Mozi (he lived ~400 years before Christ) said about music


Making music has four disadvantages: the hungry will not be feeded, the cold will not be warmed, the homeless keep homeless, the desparates will not be comforted.

Other people say, music is just for enjoyment. Others say, music is simply a bunch of different note pitches.

So I'm curious what is the purpose and meaning of music for anyone here on pianostreet? 

[gilad]

I am not sure. It holds a position of great heights for me on a spiritual level.

That is the only way I can describe music for myself. It's not exactly manna as you've eluded to above.

[pianogeek_cz]

Music works exactly like some sort of discourse. Just last week, I've tried to convey the ideas of building larger phrases together to a student of mine. It was awesome even for me (who should be working with the concept daily... ) how you could almost hear conjunctions (so... , but... and ....; however - ....!) in the music. The analogy does break down at the lowest level, though - the smallest language unit you can universally use in music would be a sentence (a single sentence, not a complex/compound one). These combine into complex and, more usually, compound sentences; these, in turn, make paragraphs (in larger-scale works...). A three-movement sonata would be something like, um, a trilogy?

And a few random thoughts...

- Music (and art in general) is one of the few things that is, as far as we know, very unique to humans. Had musicians always been aware of the distinction, when they strive for feral technique!
- Some music is prose, some is poetry, there is even drama - for instance, some of Shostakovich's fugues resemble Pirandelli...
- A well-known expert in the field of neural biology once wrote an excellent book about how the brain works. In the last chapter, he conlcuded: Wherever in the brain I have looked, I have not found the soul. Therefore, the soul does not exist. Now, why are some pianists-accoustic experts assuming the same fallacy?

[rc]

I would say it's ability to evoke obscure emotions.  Without words or visuals, the meaning isn't concrete.  There's a wide area of interpretation to a listener, but not random, there's commonality to the meaning of good music.

Because of the obscure emoting of music, it's good for creating atmospheres:  church services, weddings, funeral, festivals, dances, movie soundtracks.  Even something personal like an atmosphere for driving your car, taking a walk, or to just sit there and be absorbed by it.

I've met quite a few people who think music helps them do their job (zoning out/focusing better), but I suspect it's a load of crap.  You're either ignoring the music, in which case it might as well not be on, or listening to the music, which means you're not focused on the job at hand.

...The discipline of learning an instrument would be valuable to anyone.  Whether or not any sort of career arises, there are lessons to be learned in problem solving, goal setting, work ethic, overcoming fear, memory, imagination, the simple enjoyment of playing and the satisfaction of achievement.

[rc]

Another thought is the intellectual level, appreciation of well crafted compositions, little hidden meanings, jokes, interesting and unexpected harmonies.  Things more accessible to musicians than an average listener, but a level not to be overlooked. 

As much as I think the emotional level is the main point, I can't deny that at some point the typical 12-bar blues tune was no longer interesting.  When you're listening and playing a lot of music sometimes the mind quickly bores of common patterns.

[counterpoint]

I would say it's ability to evoke obscure emotions. 

This is a very interesting point of view. Yes, that's important for me too. Music with a strange atmosphere is very appealing to me. Much more than music which is difficult to play or which is a product of intellectual considerations. Just strange and simple - that's my favourite music 

[kard]

I would say it's ability to evoke obscure emotions.  Without words or visuals, the meaning isn't concrete.  There's a wide area of interpretation to a listener, but not random, there's commonality to the meaning of good music.

I agree...especially with instrumental music
The average "song" is too specific for me to relate to most times. They are also usually built around the same "intro-verse-chorus-verse-bridge-chorus+patterned background music" format which becomes predictable after a while.

Music works exactly like some sort of discourse. Just last week, I've tried to convey the ideas of building larger phrases together to a student of mine.

   

I agree with this one too though not necessarily to the sentence by sentence level. To me, it seems music sets up some theme or framework that the listener's own experiences (or lack thereof) give life to. 

[Derek]

fun

[pies]

a

[counterpoint]

pies, you're invited to expound your personal view. What is the purpose / meaning of music for you?

[thalberg]

The Chinese philosopher, Mozi (he lived ~400 years before Christ) said about music


Making music has four disadvantages: the hungry will not be feeded, the cold will not be warmed, the homeless keep homeless, the desparates will not be comforted.

Other people say, music is just for enjoyment. Others say, music is simply a bunch of different note pitches.

So I'm curious what is the purpose and meaning of music for anyone here on pianostreet? 

The disadvantages you list are true.  Society generally sees music as non-essential, which is why we musicians must suffer poverty in the majority of cases.

However, in a world where so much time and energy is spent getting food, meeting bare necessities, and dealing with tragedy, music provides evidence that we can transcend all that, even just a little.  It is something we have accomplished over and above meeting necessities, something we have accomplished in the midst of hardship. Music demonstrates what is great about being human.

[richard black]

Music demonstrates what is great about being human.

That's very nicely encapsulated.

[counterpoint]

The disadvantages you list are true.  Society generally sees music as non-essential, which is why we musicians must suffer poverty in the majority of cases.

"we musicians must suffer poverty", this is a slight exaggeration, but yes, our work is not honored as much as it would be appropriate.

Mozi's statement relates to the money which the state spends for the luxury of music, and he thought, it would be more rational to spend this money for the poor people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozi