This is an essay I wrote for my World Music class. It is a basically a direct comparison on how music in my life can relate to
the music of other cultures, namely South Indian and Balinese cultures.
Standing at full attention, I take in every move of the conductor--the tiny flick of her hands and the expression on her face. I can feel the members of the choir all around me. Their sound engulfs mine and seeks for a balance. Everyone is working toward the same goal of unity while trying to deliver the precision and expression that our director knows we are capable of. Loud and soft, strong and weak, we dip between notes. Then suddenly it happens. We start creating more than just notes on a page. In many ways it is quite etherial. “How many people get to experience this?” I wondered. The pure excitement and joy of producing something so beautiful. Music serves such a meaningful role, not just in America, but throughout the world. It draws people together, it helps them worship, it allows for great expression and it in essence sums up entire cultures. Noting the two previous examples given in regard to South Indian and Balinese music, it would be safe to conclude that our music, here in America, is influenced and developed much the same way as theirs. Through our history, religion and culture.
Seeing as it would take way to much time to discuss music as it relates to the entire culture, I will use personal experiences. First off, music is a way in which I have learned to be unified with others. Ever since I was little I have been singing in ensembles (note the example above)--ward choirs, school choirs, district and all-state choirs. I have had some very poignant experiences with each of these experiences but most influential in my life was the opportunity I had to sing with my sisters while growing up. Participating in a small ensemble with siblings definitely teaches you how to be unified and patient. We had to learn to blend with each other, be sensitive to each other and learn how to enjoy the time we spent singing together. Sometimes this was harder than others, but some of my most cherished memories of my childhood involve four girls gathered around our mother at the piano singing.
The second thing I would like to address is the fact that I am a music major. This is a unique position to be in. I spend everyday listening, learning and creating music. It isn’t just a part of my life anymore, it is my life. I think the greatest value to be gained from this unique position is appreciation. There are many types of music that I study that I do not enjoy listening to. I try to keep an open mind and I have learned that even some of the strangest things can be beautiful. I think of one particular moment in particular. I was in theory and my teacher was introducing a song to us. He showed us the lyrics to the song and then explained the type of word painting and composing that went into the piece. We then listened to it. Here was a song that I would definitely never chosen to listen to on my own, but now with the knowledge I have gained, I might consider singing it someday. Being a music major has taught me the value of looking a little deeper.
The third thing I would like to address is the value of religion as it relates to music. I have had so many moments in my life were music has touched me to the core. Music, in a way, is a very interwoven part of my testimony of the gospel and Jesus Christ. I can’t even count the many times I have been singing in church, listening to a musical number or some other recording and been moved to tears. Religious music, especially in the LDS culture, is very comparable to other religious music around the world. What makes it so meaningful to us is the context in which it is used. The words are sacred, but the context of the music is usually in a sacred setting as well.
Spring boarding off the previous idea, I think most music throughout the world is beautiful to us because it is what we are use to. Listening to a Balinese gamelan will probably never move me as much as listening to a religious text sung by a choir and vice versa. So, in many ways I think our musical preferences are developed and not necessarily hard-wired. This being said, I think that aspects of music are hard-wired in the human race in general. Sounds, techniques, settings and many other aspects of musical expression will vary from culture to culture but the important thing is that there is music in every culture. That is the universal aspect.
