The universe is said to hum to the sound of ‘Aum’ from the beginning of creation. Sounds surround us all the time. The buzz of an alarm clock, the crowing of a cock or the chirping of birds wakes us up in the morning.

 

Throughout the day we hear various sounds – cars, engines, horns, telephones, peoples voices, radio, TV, the call of birds and barking of dogs, the whistle of the wind, the falling rain and so many other natural and artificial noises.

 

Sound travels in waves and is the product of vibration. When a drum is struck, the vibration of the stretched leather on a hollow space generates a tone. A frog croaks by forcing air over its vocal cords, making them vibrate. A trombone produces sound when the player causes the air inside the instrument to vibrate.

 

The frequency of sound is measured by the unit, Hertz. Sound is the most important aspect of communication and speech. Music and sounds in nature provide pleasure. They are also a source of entertainment and information. The sounds of horns or alarms also warn us of danger. Doctors use the sounds of the chest and heart to diagnose ailments.

 

Acoustics is the science of sound and its effects on people. Natural sounds are heard in human voice based on animal and bird sounds and other sounds made by the wind in the trees, falling water etc. Man has learnt to record various sounds from nature and create his own music.

 

Sounds that are unpleasant, jarring and cause harm is called noise and it can hurt and cause stress e.g. crackers bursting, horns honking etc. That is why there is a conscious effort to control noise pollution.

 

Music on the other hand soothes and pleases. Musical sounds are the most interesting. Apart from the range of voices, pitches and tonal qualities, music is also produced mainly through three kinds of instruments – reed (flute), percussion (drums) and string (violin).

 

Music is one of the oldest arts and is part of many cultural and social activities. Music is a performing Art just like dance and drama. Opera combines singing and orchestral music with drama. Ballet and dance need music to help the performers with their steps and also to evoke an atmosphere. Music is used in Film and TV dramas to help set the mood and also to emphasize action

 

Musical composers need musicians to interpret and perform their works. Musical performances are partnerships between composers and performers.

 

Music is an important part of all cultures. People use music to express feelings and ideas. It helps to entertain, relax, motivate, heal and lift the soul to sublime levels.

 

People use music:

1. In ceremonies, especially religious ones, music helps to create a sense of mystery and awe.

In fact some musical instruments are played in some cultures only by priests on important occasions like harvest ceremonies etc.


Western church music tries to create a feeling of distance from the daily world. Choral music is a manifestation of participation.


In the East music is part of the liturgy, the ceremony and is considered a manifestation of the devotees feelings and involvement in the deity.


Bhakthi Yoga has been the motivating factor for the best compositions in Indian music.


The Psalms of David are also poems written in devotion to the Almighty.

2. In work

 It has been found that productivity is enhanced when music is played in the background.

In routine jobs in factories and manufacturing, soft music relieves the tedium of the job.

Music has become a stress reliever in IT jobs with the advent of MP3 and other music download facilities of the Internet.

 

Muzak or background music has become common and irritating when it is played on the telephone for ‘call waiting’ facilities.

 

Music is also played on trains, planes and even tourist coaches to distract the passengers at the beginning and end of journeys.

 

3. In personal life:

— as a hobby

–as a profession

–as a tremendous stress relieving factor.

 

4. Social activities are enhanced and enriched by music.

 

Music is an integral part of Balls, parties, festivals, fetes, carnivals and national celebrations.

 

Music has replaced common ringing tones of phones and especially cell phones announce their presence with loud tunes of popular, patriotic and religious songs. Even reversing cars and vehicles are using music to warn people about their movements!

 

The difference between music and cacophony is very little. One man’s music is another’s bugbear. Likewise lyrics can range from the sublime, to poetry and come down to the level of gibberish.

 

Music is based on rhythm. The human ear seems to react to the perceptible presence of a unit of time (the beat). Rhythm is the natural echo of the pulse and the throb of blood circulating in the human body.

 

Rhythm relates to the time aspect of music. It is quite distinct from pitch, which is the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration. Rhythm includes the effects of beats, accents, measures and grouping of notes into beats. When the performer wisely uses all these factors, the listener appreciates the performer’s sense of rhythm that is an integral part of music.

 

Music played on an instrument tries to come close to the pitch, tone and vibrations of the human voice. A player attains mastery over an instrument and ultimately he or she is associated completely with the name of the instrument. Yehudi Menuhin and Lalgudi Jayaraman with the violin, Yani and Liberacci with the piano, sitar and Ravi Shankar, mandolin and Srinivasan, Mali, Sashank and Hari Prasad Chaurasia with the flute, Santoor and Sharma, Balachandar, Chittibabu and Gayathri with the veena, Kadri and the saxophone, Ustad Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain with the tabla, Madurai Mani Iyer with the mridangam, Vinoo Vinayak and the ghatam and so many other players and instrument in classical music.

 

“If music be the food of love, play on,

Give me excess of it”-

Shakespeare’s famous lines from Twelfth Night sums up the importance of music in romance.

 

A child hears music in the lullaby that the mother sings. Music is an indicator of moods in human beings ranging from happiness, love, sorrow and separation and can express any of the nine emotions or navarasas.

 

From the Big Bang to the primordial hum of the Aum, the sounds of nature and civilization to music and emotions, sounds are an important part of human existence. The lack of this important faculty provides a challenge for survival in this world that is governed by sound. Sounds can enhance, intrude and harm life. The sounds of silence, as the Beatles put it, can help voices share so much. The ultimate bliss however is the inward journey that can shut out all sound and merge with the divine.

 

http://padmininatarajan.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/sounds-and-music.htm