Throughout the history of humankind, music has been an integral part of our culture. It has been used to heal ailments, convert souls, and elicit revolutions. It has also served as a tool to strengthen governments and achieve goals.
There are many different definitions of what music is. Some of them are more specific than others. Some define music as a “process”. Other terms are less concrete and place it within a cultural context.
A more general description of music is as follows: It is composed of sound, rhythm, and dynamics. There is also a sense of immediacy and sensuality to the sounds. It is also said to have a “cultural dialogue.”
A traditional classical European aspect of music is the melody. Other aspects include timbre, gesture, harmony, and rhythm. These aspects are given prominence in European-influenced classical music.
Another definition is that of John Blacking, who says that music is humanly patterned sound. He also calls it a “system of communication.” Other theorists believe that there is no universal definition of music.
Some of the most popular styles of music vary from one culture to the next. These musical genres have also changed over time. For example, the classical era gave way to Romantic music in the 19th century.
In the medieval era, secular songs were very important. These were sung by troubadours in Europe. These songs were often monophonic.
The Roman Catholic church became the primary authority on musical values. They had a strong emphasis on rhythm, and it was this tradition that helped to establish a strongly melodic musical tradition.