There is something very satisfying about music. It seems to fill a hole in our soul. I personally find that I am attracted to minor key music, although I have no idea why.

What is the purpose of music? Does it satisfy the need to express ourselves emotionally, or is it something else entirely?

asked 18 Nov '09, 18:00

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Vesuvius
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edited 15 Dec '09, 00:05

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Barry Allen ♦♦
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I've rolled back the tag edit on this question. Please remember that tags are used as general categories to help our website software to relate questions together. Because of this, please avoid creating new tags unnecessarily. Thanks.

(15 Dec '09, 00:11) Barry Allen ♦♦

Lesson noted for future reference! Thanks for the explanation. Blessings, Jaianniah

(15 Dec '09, 07:49) Jaianniah

i think you'll like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3hUsiUGd4E

i hope you enjoy it

(06 Jan '13, 16:34) springflower
(06 Jan '13, 18:39) white tiger
showing 1 of 4 show 3 more comments

Let me venture an answer...

I think very often, language is like a secondary form of processing input from the world. That means, whatever "raw data" that comes to us through our basic senses, we give a name to it, process it, label it and maybe store it up in our mind along with various associations attached to it. This is the intellectualisation process, and though it has proven to be extremely useful to humankind for the purpose of communication and learning from each other and from the past, it can be a limiting process as well. It is also not without its problems e.g. context, individual interpretation, biases arising from connotations and other associations.

Music, on the other hand, bypasses all of these. It stirs feelings and emotions in us without going into any details (I'm just talking about music that has no lyrics). From my personal experience, music has helped me heal fantastically. I was in hell after a breakup and felt so choked up I thought I was going to die, but then I started to compose and it has been amazingly good for me to express myself that way. All my feelings got distilled into what I would personally say are beautiful pieces, and somehow I was able to rise above all the sad stuff, the grieving, the pain. I believe music is a gift from God, and in a way I'm glad that I was able to find, in the midst of my pain, the balm for my broken heart.

link

answered 19 Nov '09, 02:40

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Pat W
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So, nicely put I too believe music is an gift from God because it sure does soothe the soul and even the wounded or hurt soul Pat W.

(19 Nov '09, 07:34) flowingwater
3

Hmm, unknown (yahoo)'s answer suddenly made me realise that perhaps listening to music is a way to achieve that set point emotion thing mentioned by Abraham Hicks. After all, we tend to associate songs with certain atmospheres, people, events in our lives.

This reminds me - right after my break up, before I started composing, I did try very hard to keep my spirits up, and one of the ways I did it was to have certain songs in my mp3 player which have always made me feel good, or feel confident and breezy. So, every time I felt low, I would quickly put these songs on and instantly enter that state! It was a bit surreal too, like in Ally McBeal when she sees the imaginary Barry White. :D

(19 Nov '09, 09:07) Pat W

Yes, music will calm you down; it will lift your spirits up and it will transport you to an place and time of love, cheer, happiness or transquility. So, glad the music was able to help you during your break up Pat W. Have an nice day.

(20 Nov '09, 01:59) flowingwater

Thanks. :) I'm now trying to help a friend going through the same thing. We'll see how it goes.

(20 Nov '09, 02:30) Pat W
1

Re: setpoints. That's exactly what I do. I have playlists of songs divided into Abraham's emotional setpoints. So if I want to move from contentment to joy, I'll listen to some low-key contentment songs for a while and then I'm ready for some powerful joy-filled songs. If you jump straight to the joy songs when you are not in the mood, they don't feel right

(20 Nov '09, 06:56) Stingray

Very helpful anwser, I realized that music is actually a mean of emotions.

(16 Dec '09, 16:10) Asklepios

I believe this is the aim with drumming , chanting etc , it changes the physiology of the body by bringing it up to the same vibratory level ♥♥♥

(06 Aug '12, 06:13) Starlight
1

@Stingray - Every day you amaze me with your ability to really put these things into practice - you are a completer/finisher that's for sure - I would love to know what these songs are for the different setpoints but I respect you may not want to share that with the WWW. Eleanor Rigby - Ray Charles, Nights in White Satin - Moody Blues - my top two for the bottom of the list.

(06 Aug '12, 07:15) Catherine
1

What a beautiful answer.

(06 Aug '12, 12:01) Paulina 1
showing 2 of 9 show 7 more comments

Music has a tremendous cathartic effect. When we have troublesome and hurt feelings, a sad song can help bring out those feelings so we can get over them and get on with life. When I listen to fast paced music when I'm involved in a physical activity, I fall into sync with the rhythms and find the activity more enjoyable and productive. When I'm studying, classical music can set my mind in a more receptive state.

I love listening to music, composing and playing instruments (violin, trombone & keyboard). Music gives me an outlet to express my creativity and emotions and it is a way to communicate some of that with others.

I believe that when we are in different states of mind, we will automatically seek out the kind of music that resonates with us. Perhaps the music attaches to various life experiences and helps us to embrace and benefit spiritually from them in ways that we might not otherwise.

link

answered 19 Nov '09, 21:18

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John
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1

I used to indulge in sad songs a lot, and I think they help us get into the grieving process. But I found that to get THROUGH the process to the end of the tunnel, I need to lift myself out by tuning in to happier moods, and I can only achieve that with happier (or just non-sad songs).

Btw, I thought I was completely over the break up, but yesterday a song came on at a fast food restaurant that I was in. It turned out to be something that my ex used to listen to all the time, and I tried so hard but I found tears welling up in my eyes! Such is the power of music. :-( Well, I'm ok now. Phew.

(20 Nov '09, 02:34) Pat W

Thanks for sharing that personal anecdote. I agree that the cathartic effect of songs is of value in the grieving process as a catalyst to get the process moving. I wouldn't advocate dwelling on the sadness either. There is a time to grieve and a time to move on.

(20 Nov '09, 09:01) John

Sound is vibration, everything vibrates, all the atoms are vibrating at a rate of speed, as well our bodies are at different frequencies, as well as our brains. When we are healthy, we are vibrating at a higher frequency than when we are sick. Since highest energy wins, we can make our selves better by singing chanting or humming. I have done this myself and have cured myself many times with this method.

There is a movie it is a parody called Repossessed staring Linda Blair and Leslie Nielsen, in this movie rock and roll is used to defeat the devil. It makes a funny thing to watch, but it is not too far off. In my book 30 years among the dead (I believe that was the book) a guy had a haunted house and he wanted to get rid of the ghost. He had a house party 24 hours with music blasting the entire night through in every room. The effect this had was to raise the vibration to a level that erased the residual energy of the ghost from the rooms, thus driving them out.

The way he defeated the negative or low energy, was to fill the house with high love and happiness energy. So I have used music for healing and, I have read how it was used for clearing, I believe that there could be many more benefits as well. So in these two examples, we see how music works inward and outwards. It also helps with manifesting, I have used music for that too, very specific lyrics I made up.

There are notes for each of the chakras as well, these can be reached by humming at different pitches, you can feel the vibration in different parts of your body corresponding to the chakras.

link

answered 16 Dec '09, 10:28

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Wade Casaldi
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People used to bring raw eggs to acid rock concerts, and put them on the edge of the stage. By the end of the concert, they would be hard-boiled perfectly from the high energy vibrations of the guitars...It's true! I can only imagine what such vibrations do our bodies... Jai

(17 Dec '09, 04:39) Jaianniah

Music to me as Pat W said is an gift from God and soothe the soul when it is wounded. You can be tired, lonely, stressed out and in a bad way emotionally but let an certain song or music play an instantly you are transported in time to that place an time when you first heard it and it begins to nuture your soul back to health no matter how wounded you are most of the time.

I rememeber reading about this man who was so tired and stressed out when he left work. He got in his car and flip on his radio and it was playing an song back when he was at his prom and he instantly smelled the scents, he smelled the fruits scents in the air, smelled the perfumes in the air, felted the wind blowing in his hair (back than) and the happy feeling he was feeling than instanly all of what he had been feeling before was gone he was alive, happy, and feeling youthful and energetic and so full of love and happiness. Just an song now that is so powerful.

Some music will make you want to jump up and start dancing and jumping around like an kid again with no cares in the world just youthful bless and happiness.

Music transcend everything nationalities, and races for even if you don't understand the words sometimes the music touches your soul and you understand the meaning.

I have always heard that music soothe the savage beast it will calm him down. Now I think they were really talking about an man/woman who was raging than an animal. But who knows it might work on them I have not paid any attention to how it affects animals only humans.

All music don't do that some repel you but some music will touch you in that special way and bring you out of that hurtful, depressed, tired, lonely, stressed out state of emotional feeling that is very hurtful.

MUSIC is an gift from God that will reach down and touch your soul if you let it. MUSIC is oh so powerful. It will bring you back to an happy state of being or remind you of sad times depends on what you are listen too. If you are lonely don't listen to lonely songs listen to up beat and cheerful songs.

link

answered 19 Nov '09, 07:52

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flowingwater
7.1k63197

edited 19 Nov '09, 07:58

Beautiful anwser.

(16 Dec '09, 16:11) Asklepios

Thanks so much for your statement I am so glad that you like my answer. You have a great and wonderful day Asklepios!

(24 Dec '09, 04:44) flowingwater

I am something of a musician, and your question caught my eye. I think that if you look at how the brain processes music, you might gain an understanding of just how music can work to empower us and affect our souls.

Music is processed by the right brain. (If you are left-handed, it is the opposite.) When we listen to music, our left brain hears it, and our right brain gets into the act right after that. Thus, both sides of the brain are working together at the same time; thus the feeling of enrichment and "wholeness" we feel when we listen to our favorite music.

Albert Einstein did poorly in school until his parents bought him a violin, and he was given lessons. The rest is history! He used to sit down with his violin and play when trying to work out some difficult problem. He was actually getting his whole brain to work together when he did this.

I think enough has already been said about how music makes us feel, and how it can change our feelings. I personally find classical pieces without a lot of repetition in their structure to be ideal for "turning on" my right brain. Also, playing the piano adds yet another layer to the process, as we are now using our body and thus even more of the brain.

I am glad, Pat, that you found the answer to your grief in composing. I thought you would be interested in how it actually worked for you. I find the same release in writing, composing, painting or other forms of art, and singing. When I am especially down, I get into my car, and sing, "Ave Maria"- the version with the high "A" at the climax. In the act of singing , I feel Mary. I feel angels, and sometimes, my God. All religious singing does this for me. I cannot listen to the "Hallelujah Chorus" from "The Messiah" by Handel without singing along with the sopranos or altos. Because it is Christmastime, I thought everyone would love to take another look at your question, which is an excellent one.

Blessings, and Christmas Light, Jai

link

answered 14 Dec '09, 23:07

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Jaianniah
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edited 15 Dec '09, 04:20

Hi Jaianniah, please could you see my comments regarding tag editing here: (http://www.inwardquest.com/questions/1731/what-is-musics-role-in-spiritual-and-earthly-experience) Thanks!

(15 Dec '09, 00:12) Barry Allen ♦♦

I would love to hear you sing. Music is very important for music is a vibration that uplifts our own or brings us down depending on what we are listening to. Jai look up the Solfagio scale and Dr. Leonard Horwitz you will love this info.

(06 Aug '12, 12:09) Paulina 1

@Paulina- Will do! Thank you. ♥

(06 Aug '12, 12:28) Jaianniah
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