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Postplatform: The food of love
AMAR LIMBU
FEB 08 -
Can you imagine life without music? No soothing lullabies. No romantic serenades. No lively pop, hip-pop songs. No stirring symphonies. No inspirational melodies. Most would consider that a dull and unappealing prospect. Yes, music is a powerful bond which appeals to virtually the full range of human emotions. Not only does it soothe, pacify, excite, entertain us but uplifts, unites and inspires us. It moves us to ecstasy and reduces us to tears. Moreover, music is so powerful that it speaks straight to our heart. Why are we so moved by music that is pleasant to our ears? The answer is this.
Music is a beautiful invisible gift created by humans. As such, it should be treasured, and everyone, young and old, should have access to it. It has a very long history. For instance, archaeological evidence indicates that African people played the drums, horns and bells a long, long time ago. The ancient Chinese played a form of mouth organ and panpipes. The people of Egypt, India and Israel played the harp.
Of course, to enjoy instrumental music in the past, mankind had to play at least an instrument or listen to someone who would play. Nowadays, a wide range of music is available to millions at the touch of a button or the click of a mouse. Indeed, all forms of music has been recorded or downloaded to play on devices that can slip into your pocket. A 2011 survey in a Western country found that eight to 18-year-olds spend more than four hours a day listening to the music they like.
This trend, which is not uncommon, helps explain why the music industry is flourishing. Music is big business. The kind of music people listen to varies as they grow older. It influences us. It affects our feelings. So it is believed that songs can be like the people we associate with. Some bring out our positive emotions, such as happiness and love. Others dredge up bad feelings, such as anger and hatred.
Many songs have innocent lyrics. But others, either subtly or openly, approve of or even promote behaviours that violate wholesome values. Indeed, some musical genres are known for depravity, hatred and violence. Heavy metal lyrics often include violence and the occult. Music has both pros and cons, therefore, we ought to discard the music which stirs up undesirable feelings or fosters improper thoughts and irritation.
Apart from these, music helps listeners to ease their pain, anxiety and tensions. Scientists claim that music even nurtures plants to grow faster. Therefore, there is no human being that dislikes music. Also, it tells us about human nature. It is the best pastime. It is indispensable. There is a wealth of advantages of music.
The Chief Editor of Writers' Diary
This article published in The Kathmandu Post on February 9, 2012
Can you imagine life without music? No soothing lullabies. No romantic serenades. No lively pop, hip-pop songs. No stirring symphonies. No inspirational melodies. Most would consider that a dull and unappealing prospect. Yes, music is a powerful bond which appeals to virtually the full range of human emotions. Not only does it soothe, pacify, excite, entertain us but uplifts, unites and inspires us. It moves us to ecstasy and reduces us to tears. Moreover, music is so powerful that it speaks straight to our heart. Why are we so moved by music that is pleasant to our ears? The answer is this.
Music is a beautiful invisible gift created by humans. As such, it should be treasured, and everyone, young and old, should have access to it. It has a very long history. For instance, archaeological evidence indicates that African people played the drums, horns and bells a long, long time ago. The ancient Chinese played a form of mouth organ and panpipes. The people of Egypt, India and Israel played the harp.
Of course, to enjoy instrumental music in the past, mankind had to play at least an instrument or listen to someone who would play. Nowadays, a wide range of music is available to millions at the touch of a button or the click of a mouse. Indeed, all forms of music has been recorded or downloaded to play on devices that can slip into your pocket. A 2011 survey in a Western country found that eight to 18-year-olds spend more than four hours a day listening to the music they like.
This trend, which is not uncommon, helps explain why the music industry is flourishing. Music is big business. The kind of music people listen to varies as they grow older. It influences us. It affects our feelings. So it is believed that songs can be like the people we associate with. Some bring out our positive emotions, such as happiness and love. Others dredge up bad feelings, such as anger and hatred.
Many songs have innocent lyrics. But others, either subtly or openly, approve of or even promote behaviours that violate wholesome values. Indeed, some musical genres are known for depravity, hatred and violence. Heavy metal lyrics often include violence and the occult. Music has both pros and cons, therefore, we ought to discard the music which stirs up undesirable feelings or fosters improper thoughts and irritation.
Apart from these, music helps listeners to ease their pain, anxiety and tensions. Scientists claim that music even nurtures plants to grow faster. Therefore, there is no human being that dislikes music. Also, it tells us about human nature. It is the best pastime. It is indispensable. There is a wealth of advantages of music.
The Chief Editor of Writers' Diary
This article published in The Kathmandu Post on February 9, 2012
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