(no subject)
So I had to write a little speech off of a quote given to me for Black night. Black night is part of my Fraternity's Proationary membership process (pledge education). We have three color night, Red, Black and Gold. Each pertains to a certian theme. This year, we changed a few things, so I got to write a little something.
It's written for the pledges (hence the male-orientation), but it's really my philosophy on music.
“Music is a mystical and powerful art form that expresses the highest aspirations of man. It communicates that which cannot be conveyed through actions or words and is, therefore, called “mystery.””
Mankind has never been without music. From the savage beats of a drum to the highest classical orchestras; from the folk songs that every man, woman and child know and sing, to the compositions that take the utmost training and understanding to perform, Music is infused within our society.
But what is music? The most common misconception is that “music” is the sound produced from an instrument, or the notes sung by a vocalist. But music is much more than mere sound and vibration. Music is the power of creation and performance; the play of harmony and dissonance, tension and resolution on a man’s emotions. The vastness of qualities that music can produce is as complete as the complexity of emotions within a human mind. Music can call a man to rejoice, or bring a man to tears. It can stoke the fires of rage, or soothe the pains of loss.
This is where the mystery of music comes in. How can a single song bring tears to the eyes of one man, and a smile to the face of another? How is it possible for one band to bring crowds roaring to their feet while another keeps the audience in rapt silence? This is the power of music.
A true musician is a man who understands this. He understands the difference between playing a piano and playing a song; between singing notes and singing an aria. Technical proficiency does not make a musicianly man. Rather, the understanding of the mystery of music; that it can convey the joy of victory or the sorrow of defeat, is what makes a man a musician.
It's written for the pledges (hence the male-orientation), but it's really my philosophy on music.
“Music is a mystical and powerful art form that expresses the highest aspirations of man. It communicates that which cannot be conveyed through actions or words and is, therefore, called “mystery.””
Mankind has never been without music. From the savage beats of a drum to the highest classical orchestras; from the folk songs that every man, woman and child know and sing, to the compositions that take the utmost training and understanding to perform, Music is infused within our society.
But what is music? The most common misconception is that “music” is the sound produced from an instrument, or the notes sung by a vocalist. But music is much more than mere sound and vibration. Music is the power of creation and performance; the play of harmony and dissonance, tension and resolution on a man’s emotions. The vastness of qualities that music can produce is as complete as the complexity of emotions within a human mind. Music can call a man to rejoice, or bring a man to tears. It can stoke the fires of rage, or soothe the pains of loss.
This is where the mystery of music comes in. How can a single song bring tears to the eyes of one man, and a smile to the face of another? How is it possible for one band to bring crowds roaring to their feet while another keeps the audience in rapt silence? This is the power of music.
A true musician is a man who understands this. He understands the difference between playing a piano and playing a song; between singing notes and singing an aria. Technical proficiency does not make a musicianly man. Rather, the understanding of the mystery of music; that it can convey the joy of victory or the sorrow of defeat, is what makes a man a musician.