Throughout history, music has been an important part of human life. Music is the art of combining sounds, often with words, to produce a piece of music. Music can be played on a variety of instruments, and has been used in many different types of performances, from musical plays to advertising.
Music has been used in religious ceremonies and rituals, in geriatrics and psychotherapy, and in popular culture. There has always been an appreciation of the role that music plays in human lives, and its value in human societies. Music has been used to serve a variety of worldviews, from religion to science to social activism. The concept of music therapy dates back at least as far as Aristotle and Plato, and has been used to treat patients in hospitals and in hospices.
Music was used by the Stoics and Epicureans to express the virtues of moderation and good living. Music was a component of the Christian faith. Music was also important in rituals and ceremonies in Ancient China. In the 3rd century, the philosopher Plotinus said that works of art could contain a measure of truth. Music was also used to illuminate text. This was echoed by St. Augustine, who regarded music as a vital part of the religious life.
In the late 19th century, a group of philosophers devoted to the symbolic use of words, called symbolists, made important contributions to music theory. The symbolists incorporated elements of psychology, formalism, and expressionism. These influences were influential in the mid-20th century.
Symbolists included Ferdinand Langer, who ascribed symbolic usage to signal, and Edmund Gurney, who incorporated psychological elements. Both of these philosophers espoused a new concept of dynamism, which was very similar to that of Nietzsche. Nietzsche rejected the use of tone painting as music.
Music is composed to produce harmony. To achieve harmony, a piece of music usually uses one or more scales, which are series of tones arranged in ascending or descending order. Some composers also use syncopation, which is a deliberate upsetting of meter. The problem with losing explicit tonality is that it makes it harder for nontutors to hear and understand music.
Aristotle believed that music was an expression of universal truth. He believed that music could form the character of a person and that it could be used to express emotions. He also emphasized the importance of a rich musical diet and the value of imitation. He also advocated the use of vocal music rather than instrumental music.
Aristoxenus, a student of Aristotle, denigrated the importance of acoustical considerations and believed that music fulfilled an emotional role. He also gave credit to the human listener for the meaning of music.
Sextus Empiricus, a 3rd century philosopher, said that music was the art of tones and rhythms. He also thought that music could be used to convey emotion and that it reflected celestial movement.
Music theory has been a source of debate for centuries. The philosophers who have formulated the theory of music have ranged from those who thought music was simply grace to those who believed music was a reflection of reality. The most popular theory is that music is a means of expression, and it has been used to convey emotional messages in many different forms. The most common use of music in modern society is in the form of popular music. It is accompanied by guitars, keyboards, and percussion instruments. There is a large audience for this music.