MUSIC IS A GIFT – CHOOSE WISELY

Music is an art that, in one guise or another, permeates every human society.

Modern music is heard in a bewildering profusion of styles, many of them contemporary, others engendered in past eras. Music is a protean art; it lends itself easily to alliances with words, as in song, and with physical movement, as in dance. Throughout history, music has been an important adjunct to ritual and drama and has been credited with the capacity to reflect and influence human emotion.

 Popular culture has consistently exploited these possibilities, most conspicuously today by means of radio, film, television, and the musical theatre. The implications of the uses of music in psychotherapy, geriatrics, and advertising testify to a faith in its power to affect human behaviour. Publications and recordings have effectively internationalized music in its most significant, as well as its most trivial, manifestations. Beyond all this, the teaching of music in primary and secondary schools has now attained virtually worldwide acceptance. Music is everywhere to be heard.

But what is music? Commentators have spoken of “the relationship of music to the human senses and intellect,” thus affirming a world of human discourse as the necessary setting for the art. A definition of music itself will take longer. As Aristotle said, “It is not easy to determine the nature of music or why anyone should have a knowledge of it.”

Early in the 20th century, it was regarded as a commonplace that a musical tone was characterized by the regularity of its vibrations; this uniformity gave it a fixed pitch and distinguished its sounds from “noise.” Although the view may be supported by traditional music, it would be an unacceptable yardstick in the latter half of the 20th century.

Can you imagine life without music? Yes music appeals to virtually all range of human emotions. It suits and excite us, uplift and inspires us. It moves us to ecstasy and reduce us to tears. Music has power because it speaks sraight to our heart.

So, why are we moved by music? The simple answer is that music is a beautiful gift from God (James 1:17). Music should be wholesome, treasured and available to all.

From historical accounts, it is clear that the power to move men has always been attributed to music; its ecstatic possibilities have been recognized in all cultures and have usually been admitted in practice under particular conditions, sometimes stringent ones.

Music has a very long history and archeological evidence indicate that centuries before our Common Era, African tribes played drums, horns and bells. The ancient Chinese played a form of mouth organ and panpipes. The people of Egypt, India,Israel and Mesopotamia played the harp.

Perharps one of the most specific of historical references to music is that found in the Bible in Genesis 4:21 where we learn that a man named Jubal was the father of all those who “handled the harp and the pipe”

To enjoy music those days, you had to play an instrument or listen to those who played it; but today music is available to many at the touch of the button or the click of the mouse.

Whatever the case, music influences us and affects our emotions – when King Saul of ancient Israel felt troubled, soothing music calmed him (1Samuel 16:23). In the same way, songs can be like the people we associate with. Some bring out our positive emotions such as happiness and love. Others dig out bad feelings such as anger and hatred (Proverbs 13:20).

Since music exerts such a powerful influence, we must be wise to be selective in the music we choose to listen to.

We should ask ourself what message do the music convey? Many songs have innocent lyrics while others subtly or openly approve or promote behaviours that violates wholesome Bible principle values. It is a known fact that some music genres are known for depravity, hatred and violence. For example Rap lyrics are occasionally shocking, brutal - rife with hatred of women and obsenities. Heavy-metal lyrics often include violence and the occult.

Whether you are a parent or teenager, before you buy or listen to music, ask yourself the benefits of such music or what message does the music convey.

Reflecting on such questions will help you to choose your music wisely.