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Episode 2: Music and its magical power

Music is magical and it’s an integral part of our lives. How we’ve evolved to respond to music the way we do is quite a mystery. And, I do believe that there is more to music than we know. Though, my musical perception may be partly subjective. However, we all have a common response to music irrespective of the “type of music”.

As a matter of fact, music is bound to our emotions. Some music makes me cry or gives me certain mysterious feelings. And, I needed to understand why such music goes deep into my soul. Also, I’m quite keen on how and when the concept of music started. In this episode of my diaries, I would be sharing some of my amazing findings on the magical power of music.

Music is a universal language

Music is undoubtedly a language peculiar to all cultures in the world. We’re all somehow tuned to respond immediately to certain sounds. Music can influence this to an extent. Not only can music suddenly capture our impulses but also the state of our entire being.

Not to mention its effect that causes one to dance or make body movements. Indeed, there must be some sort of connection music create to its listener. Perhaps, the way we react to music is based on the culture that we come from or on some universal features of the music.

Besides, music can communicate or convey emotions. Regardless of culture, gender, language, race, age, and background – the emotions get through. For example, when we listen to scary music or threatening sounds.

In fact, researchers found that the most intense emotional responses come from music that holds back the harmonious resolution we expect for extended periods. Our emotional response to music emanates from the tension between our expectations and the actual resolution of the music.

In addition, while language splits the world into detailed, distinct pieces, music unifies the world into a whole.

A sound is partly responsible for creation

“…everything was tuned into existence…an intelligently well-composed infinite sound which still resonates deep within us, could be traced to the evolution of life itself.”

Godfrey Jeremiah

First, to understand the secrets of the universe, you need to think of it in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration. Surprisingly, music possesses these features altogether. In light of this, we can determine the possible events of creation and how they happened in the first place.

The orderliness or the pattern of everything in the universe, in particular, could be as a result of a finely tuned sound.

[I would develop more on this in a later post.]

Sound can carry hidden messages that can help us unlock the past

Sound waves projected in the past are still reachable. Because they continue to travel in the air till infinity. That is to say, when you produce a sound, it stays in the air forever. And it can be recaptured by some means.

Notably, this extraordinary discovery supports the invention of the “Chronovisor“.

Music reminds us of the states of our soul

Aristotle once asked, “Why does music, being just sounds, remind us of the states of our soul?” This is one of the most intriguing questions about music. Darwin thought that his theory of evolution could explain everything, with one exception: “Music is the greatest mystery.”

The book, “Music, Passions, and Cognitive Functions” by Leonid Perlovsky discusses a theory that explains why music has such a power over our souls: knowledge causes grief, cognitive dissonances, we live in this ocean of grief. And music helps us to overcome these negative emotions and to continue living. Furthermore, the book states how music enables us to survive in this sea of grief, overcomes discomforts and stresses of acquiring new knowledge, and unifies the soul, hence the power of music.

Music helps to resolve our inner conflicts

“It’s impossible to explain what music is and why it affects us so strongly – and that it’s not even clear if music can serve “an obvious adaptive function.”’

Nature Journal

Inner conflicts arise when we experience contradictory knowledge. Also, when we confront new information that opposes existing beliefs. The term that best explains this idea is – Cognitive dissonance.

One way we alleviate dissonance is through suppressing or rejecting this contradictory knowledge.

Research shows that music can enhance our cognitive abilities. The idea is that songs (which can convey an array of nuanced emotions) help us reconcile our own conflicted emotions when making choices. And the more diverse, differentiated emotions we possess, the more well-founded our decisions become.

Several experiments have proven music’s ability to help us overcome cognitive dissonances and retain contradictory knowledge.

Music evokes memory

Important for me to mention that some songs help me connect to the past. Songs from the past can activate powerful emotions and send us back in time. Likewise, they can stir up some imaginations and even carry us away.

The relationship between music and memory is powerful. For this reason, it’s used to help dementia patients, the elderly, and those suffering from depression. Again, people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries will often have problems with memory. Music can help bring back some of those special moments of their lives that they have forgotten. And those suffering from dementia can trigger vivid memories by listening to music they heard when they were young. However, music cannot cure, but perhaps it can help heal.

In addition, it helps to retrieve information stored in the brain. Because it provides a rhythm and rhyme and sometimes alliteration which helps to unlock that information with cues. And, it is the structure of the song that helps us to remember it, as well as the melody and the images the words provoke.

Besides, words set to songs are the easiest to remember. Especially when they are heard as a song rather than speech. Moreover, just think of one of the first songs you could well have sung: the A, B, C’s song, for instance. Try and remember anything set to a tune and your powers of recall will be stronger.

Certainly, there is a link between music and memory.

In conclusion

The power and mysteries of music are something I believe we’re beginning to understand. Given these points, the journey of debunking its mysteries has only begun.