The Definition of Music
Appreciation and History of Music
Professor Cook
April 25,2017
The thing known as 'music' has received many different definitions from many different
sources over the years, and there is much dispute over which is the correct definition. There is an
age-old argument on how music itself works, when sound is classified as music, and how it
affects people both physically and emotionally. From any series of random noises to only highly
complicated, ordered tones, there is a huge variety on the opinions of what classifies as music.
Despite many opinions and variations on the definition, the following is my attempt to define
what music is to me.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, there are over four definitions for music,
and none of them seem to quite do it justice. The first definition is: "The science or art ordering
tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a
composition having unity and continuity." Referring to music as a science organized in
succession and in combination makes it sound like something like math; very scientific, precise,
and not very meaningful. Another definition according to the Merriam-Webster is "An agreeable
sound." This definition is definitely true, but lacks the depth that you think of when thinking of
music. Music goes deeper than a scientific sound and reaction. Though music is not a hard,
mathematical science, it does require some structure and organization to create a pleasant,
harmonic sound. Random sounds, tones, or notes without any clear structure or order that do not
sound pleasing is more like meaningless noise than music.
Music is highly emotional, which is partly why it is so hard to define in words. Listening
to music elicits an emotional reaction in humans that is hard for people to recognize and name. If
the emotion cannot even be explained, it is very difficult to explain what exactly music is doing
to cause that emotional response. Going beyond simple noise, music creates a deep, emotional
response that is unique from any other noise. This emotional response is one of the components
that separates music from other, nonmusical noises. Music has another unique property, which is
the ability to make the listener want to move along with it. Often with a rhythmic beat, the music
can create a desire to dance alone. Even without a steady beat, any upbeat music makes the
listener to bob his head, snap his fingers, and/or tap his foot.
Songs can create anger, sadness, or happiness in a person who is listening to the music. In
addition to experiencing an emotion, music can also impact the mood of the listener, causing him
to be gloomy, content, relaxed, or melancholy. An impact on a mood is much longer lasting than
a fleeting emotional response. Music requires that unique, emotional response in the listener to
be music. Any series of noises cannot be counted as music; random noises organized in a non-
logical, unpleasant order cannot qualify as a song.