The Power of Music

The Power of Music

Although I have enjoyed music (defined by physics as regular vibrations - irregular vibrations are considered noise) since I can remember, it was only on my first semester of high school that I was confronted with the opening sentence of Chapter 33 (Music and Musical Instruments) in the book High School Physics by Oswald Blackwood et all, that I realized it was something powerful.?The book translated to Portuguese by the Ministry of Education was a great initiative.???The sentence (coined by the Playwright/Poet William Congreve in?The Mourning Bride, 1697) said:

"Music has Charms to soothe a savage Breast."

The quote suggests that music has the power to calm even the most angry and wild emotions in a person. ?The word "savage" in this context refers to something wild and the power of music almost supernatural.

Studies have found that cows that were exposed to slow-tempo music produced more milk than cows that were not exposed to music, though this is debatable. ?

Studies have also shown that listening to music can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and stress, and promote relaxation. ??

Music can have a significant impact on the psychology of a person because it has the ability to stimulate and influence a wide range of emotional and cognitive processes.

But be careful. Listening to certain kinds of music can have negative impacts on both physical and psychological health such as hearing loss, tinnitus, anxiety and stress, sleep disruption, distraction and decreased productivity, and social isolation.

In the medieval model music was related to astronomy and the belief that music was an integral part of the cosmic order, and that the harmonious sounds of the heavens could be heard in the Music of the Spheres. This concept had a profound impact on music theory and composition during the medieval period.

In Electrical Engineering pure sine waves reminds us of harmonics and resonances and the entire spectrum of frequencies.?But for the sounds of music, our ears can only detect frequencies in range from about?20 Hz to 20 kHz.

Since I have had an international experience, my preferred assortment of music is very diverse.?I can easily go from the Brazilian to English music enjoying them with the same intensity. ??From Chico Buarque to Paul McCartney – from Luiz Gonzaga to Billy Joe I can get instant blood pressure reduction. ?It produces emotional regulation, and memory enhanced performance.

The power of music is immense and has been recognized for centuries as it can have a profound effect on our emotions, thoughts, and even our physical well-being. It can make us feel happy, sad, calm, or excited, and can evoke memories and emotions associated with those feelings.

Music has the ability to bring people together and create a sense of community. It has been used throughout history in religious ceremonies, social gatherings, and political rallies.

Overall, music is important as it can be a powerful tool for promoting mental health and well-being and can enhance our overall quality of life.

Cheers

Paulo

Psalms 49:4: I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:

PS – I wrote this notice today just after I received by the post office an old copy of the Blackwood book (I had lent my copy 55 years ago and never got it back ??). It was music to my ears.