Touched by music

Seeing as how these groups are going through a quiet phase I
thought I'd throw this in.
We all have our favourite music whatever our tastes, however
what is it that elevates a piece to the status of "beautiful?" just
what is it than can touch us and bring forth our emotions?

It can be music alone as in classical pieces or songs with meaningful
lyrics, but what is it in the human condition that has an appreciation
for such things? is it related to any form of spirituality or sensitivity,
is there anything that can reach some of the Neanderthals we see
around us?

Similarly there are beautiful places, those scenes that can take your
breath away or summon tears, and yet seem to leave many untouched.
I sat alone at the back of a dive boat at anchor once in Egypt, we
were near the shore and I fought back tears at how indescribably
beautiful the water was, an irridescent blue that years later I can still
recall and tap into an echo of the feelings experienced at that time.

So what is it that can touch us at times and yet leave others cold
with the same experience? is it merely something in our mental
makeup, a form of pattern recognition that gives a pleasurable
stimulus or is it anything more?

I'd also like to share / plug the song "My Immortal" by Evanescence
as one of those beautiful pieces, and it would be interesting to see
what others think are theirs.

Ian.

CAndersen (Kimba) wrote:

> This is a subject that probably has a billion different answers. I find it
> interesting that you brought it up, because I consider music to be
> mankind's greatest achievement.

Some may disagree with you. Douglas Hofstader thought music may be part
of a braided trilogy.

Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid

http://www.forum2.org/tal/books/geb.html

Never has enlightenment been this reasonably priced. I believe I'll get
a spare copy. At this cost, ANYONE can get deep overnight!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...2004?vi=glance

mike

On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 23:02:50 +0100, Evil Noodle wrote:

> Is there further evidence of animals actually having an appreciation
> for music? I know animals will respond to music usually depending
> on their species, cage birds being an obvious example, but is there
> really any true appreciation? and I've yet to catch my dog tapping
> his paw in time to a catchy tune

I don't think we can know the answer to this one with certainty. An
absence of toe-tapping indicates an absence of 'human' appreciation of
music, which is not the same thing as 'true' appreciation.

> So depending on their nature, there's not much chance of tears but
> a pounding heavy beat might rouse them? different music for a
> different emotional response I suppose.

*nods*
It's all to do with resonance. Match the harmonic and rhythmic qualities
of the music to a part of a person, and you can touch them. The perception
of 'beauty' will largely depend on how and where they like to be touched.

> Indeed, I find "Why does my heart feel so bad" by Moby is a
> good one to get you reaching for the razor blades when feeling
> down

Which is probably why I recognize the beauty of that song, but avoid
listening to it

> Yep, it was during a rare outing for my sensitive side that I began
> pondering some of these issues and how they might relate to our
> spirit rather than our brain.

Tis indeed a good topic.

--
Nick

"Evil Noodle" <evil.noodle@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:uOUNa.3727$ju6.61708@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...
> Seeing as how these groups are going through a quiet phase I
> thought I'd throw this in.
> We all have our favourite music whatever our tastes, however
> what is it that elevates a piece to the status of "beautiful?" just
> what is it than can touch us and bring forth our emotions?
>

Music by radio is heard by the audience in virtual
synchronicity. It bleeds off excessive energies, or
it sometimes helps you figure things out. The
collective is a useful tool if the drawbacks can be
rectified out.

If nothing else the music throws out tapestries in
the mind on which to project various insanities.

	#1
Evil Noodle	Touched by music Seeing as how these groups are going through a quiet phase I thought I'd throw this in. We all have our favourite music whatever our tastes, however what is it that elevates a piece to the status of "beautiful?" just what is it than can touch us and bring forth our emotions? It can be music alone as in classical pieces or songs with meaningful lyrics, but what is it in the human condition that has an appreciation for such things? is it related to any form of spirituality or sensitivity, is there anything that can reach some of the Neanderthals we see around us? Similarly there are beautiful places, those scenes that can take your breath away or summon tears, and yet seem to leave many untouched. I sat alone at the back of a dive boat at anchor once in Egypt, we were near the shore and I fought back tears at how indescribably beautiful the water was, an irridescent blue that years later I can still recall and tap into an echo of the feelings experienced at that time. So what is it that can touch us at times and yet leave others cold with the same experience? is it merely something in our mental makeup, a form of pattern recognition that gives a pleasurable stimulus or is it anything more? I'd also like to share / plug the song "My Immortal" by Evanescence as one of those beautiful pieces, and it would be interesting to see what others think are theirs. Ian.

	#2
mike II	Re: Touched by music CAndersen (Kimba) wrote: > This is a subject that probably has a billion different answers. I find it > interesting that you brought it up, because I consider music to be > mankind's greatest achievement. Some may disagree with you. Douglas Hofstader thought music may be part of a braided trilogy. Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid http://www.forum2.org/tal/books/geb.html Never has enlightenment been this reasonably priced. I believe I'll get a spare copy. At this cost, ANYONE can get deep overnight! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...2004?vi=glance mike

	#3
Nick Argall	Re: Touched by music On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 23:02:50 +0100, Evil Noodle wrote: > Is there further evidence of animals actually having an appreciation > for music? I know animals will respond to music usually depending > on their species, cage birds being an obvious example, but is there > really any true appreciation? and I've yet to catch my dog tapping > his paw in time to a catchy tune I don't think we can know the answer to this one with certainty. An absence of toe-tapping indicates an absence of 'human' appreciation of music, which is not the same thing as 'true' appreciation. > So depending on their nature, there's not much chance of tears but > a pounding heavy beat might rouse them? different music for a > different emotional response I suppose. nods It's all to do with resonance. Match the harmonic and rhythmic qualities of the music to a part of a person, and you can touch them. The perception of 'beauty' will largely depend on how and where they like to be touched. > Indeed, I find "Why does my heart feel so bad" by Moby is a > good one to get you reaching for the razor blades when feeling > down Which is probably why I recognize the beauty of that song, but avoid listening to it > Yep, it was during a rare outing for my sensitive side that I began > pondering some of these issues and how they might relate to our > spirit rather than our brain. Tis indeed a good topic. -- Nick

	#4
Jon	Re: Touched by music "Evil Noodle" <evil.noodle@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:uOUNa.3727$ju6.61708@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net... > Seeing as how these groups are going through a quiet phase I > thought I'd throw this in. > We all have our favourite music whatever our tastes, however > what is it that elevates a piece to the status of "beautiful?" just > what is it than can touch us and bring forth our emotions? > Music by radio is heard by the audience in virtual synchronicity. It bleeds off excessive energies, or it sometimes helps you figure things out. The collective is a useful tool if the drawbacks can be rectified out. If nothing else the music throws out tapestries in the mind on which to project various insanities.