Music: Senses and Emotion
by maribé
As we studied Renaissance music, we read how this period involved “the discovery of the world and of man.” “The reason hereof is an admirable facility which music hath to express and represent the very standing, rising, and falling, the very steps and inflections every way, the turns and varieties of all passions.” During the Renaissance, the emphasis was on the effects music produced on the senses. Palestrina, for instance, arranged the tones and harmonies with the goal of producing a spiritual aura in Pope Marcellus Mass. The lyrics, of course, play an important part; they tell us the story. As a listener, rather than a musician, I enjoy the emotional/story part of any composition. But what if instead of hearing a story we try to create our own? Would that make us feel more engaged in the process of enjoying the piece? Could that be a reason why musicians started to follow their own instincts and not write the traditional Mass music?
I constantly ask myself why some people do not enjoy ‘classical’ music. According to composer Ben Zander’s TED talk, The Transformative Power of Classical Music, everyone can and should “love and understand classical music.” He said that if we focus on the vision, the “long line” rather than the individual notes, we will create a vision that we actually want to live out. Using the Chopin prelude, he shows that we can easily lose track of the main message in a piece if we focus only on the small parts. In this way, classical music is for everybody, because everybody can “listen, understand, and be moved by what the composer has to say.” Zander even went further by saying that one can translate this into life by keeping our eyes on the long line, following that vision that is fueled by our passions.
Benjamin Zander’s TED talk:
The Thousand-Year Ears 
Thanks for sharing this. I highly agree with you that classical music is for everyone. The reason many people don’t usually list classical music as their favorite is very similar to the story of the young boy give up practicing piano in this video. Listening to classical music is not a tough job but it definitely requires studying and knowledge to fully appreciate its beauty.
I don’t necessarily agree or disagree that classical music is for everyone but I do think that there are some people who don’t understand classical music enough to enjoy it. Nowadays, people are used to Justin Beiber or Taylor Swift kind of music. We like their music because they’re so catchy. It’s new for some people to stop and think about what the musical is trying to show, especially when we have to do some prior research in order to get a full understanding on the musical.
I have a friend who says he doesn’t listen to classical music because he doesn’t like music without words. I think what most people mean when they say “classical music” is instrumental music from the Baroque, Classical, or Romantic eras. I think, then, that the primary reason that “classical music” doesn’t have the same appeal as pop music in modern society has everything to do with words; namely, language. It is true that people listen to music for some unquantifiable aesthetic value; but it is also true that they look for familiarity. The first level of this familiarity is that we look for music with words. In English.
There’s a reason why most pop music sounds the same. We recycle the same chord progressions, lyrical themes, and even melodies (this is especially prevalent when songs are sampled in dance music). We crave familiarity.
Of course, the counter-argument to this is that foreign music sometimes gets very popular. But really, how popular would “Gangnam Style” or “Danza Kuduro” be if they didn’t sound exactly like dance music in America? The second level of familiarity we look to lies beyond language; it has to do with motifs and sounds. In fact, it’s entirely possible that familiarity in sound is even more important than familiarity in language. As evidenced by the success of Shakira & Pitbull, we are perfectly willing, en masse, to accept music that we recognize in terms of sound even if we don’t comprehend the language. But can you name one popular song that makes use of the mandolin?
Anyway, this brings me to my point. Classical music is unfamiliar in every way imaginable. Firstly, it is in an unfamiliar language in a literal sense (that is to say, no language at all). Second of all, it is foreign in a more subjective way as well. Classical music doesn’t use power chords, it doesn’t use guitars or modern harmonizing techniques or “drops” or I-IV-V chord progressions. It’s totally different in every imaginable way.
But just as much as classical music can be foreign, it is also incredibly universal. Thought classical music does not speak to us in a language like English, it communicates in a different language; an ineffable one, one that is understood across cultures. Even if you’ve listened to Ke$ha your entire life, hearing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata will put you in a gloomy mood. I don’t know how or why that is, but it’s true. And that’s why classical music will never die. In a medium where artists attempt to explain the unexplainable in terms of emotion and emotion alone, more often than not the effect is indescribable, and universally resonating. It’s possible that generations from now, people will understand the message of Justin Bieber’s love songs; but it is certain that generations from now, people will understand the classical canon.
Going to California by Led Zeppelin uses a mandolin.
Arguing whether or not classical music is for everyone is a rather hard point to prove. As Zander said, only 3% of the population “likes” classical music. The problem with classical music is exposure. How often do you hear classical music on popular music stations? In reality you don’t. While there are a few stations play classical music, almost everyone skips over them.
Although it is a hard point to prove, classical music is so varied that it can evoke a broad spectrum of emotions in listeners. Modern music is strongly oriented towards fast and repetitive beats and notes, and thus mostly focuses on exciting the listeners. However classical music can be exciting and depressing (and many other emotions) in the same piece.
The reasoning behind why music has a strong and influential role in all cultures has to do with the way it stimulates the brain. In particular, music stimulates both the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens. The nucleus accumbens, plays a particular role in the release of dopamine, which is a “feel good” neurotransmitter. Music essentially helps to not only induce a natural high, but also helps to activate the brain as a whole (since music is a global process). The music that best accomplishes this is classical music due to the fact that it is both recognizable and novel. As shown by Zander in the chopin piece, the listeners expect the piece to be resolved instantly, but instead of hitting the final note, the piece builds up in anticipatory way. This anticipation of the final note is what causes music and emotion to be so interconnected.
Overall, while it is tough to prove that classical music is for everyone, especially since many modern songs build anticipation (albeit in much different ways), I agree that classical music has the potential to be for everyone, but unfortunately due to its lack of exposure is its main obstacle.
Since the discovery of the internet, kids attention spans have shortened, due to the availability of information the moment you want it. People from newer generations may not enjoy classical music due to the fact that it is difficult for them to pay attention to Zander’s “long line” — they may be attracted to the little parts and then be unsatisfied with the music’s evocative quality. Maybe newer composers should adjust their music accordingly to address this.
I think that it is possible to come to appreciate almost any kind of music, or anything at all, really, if you approach it with an open mind and try to understand the subject. If you can relate to classical music, understand architecture, or know an area’s history, I believe that it is likely that your knowledge may grow into appreciation and even love.
There is a curling club in Philly. They are offering lessons next month.
I have been called out as being too esoteric with that comment. The point is that if your claim is that anyone can grow to love anything, give curling a try.