 
1
Music
and sound
What is music?
The common definition of music is a form of art in which sound
is organized in time. Keep in mind that the definition of
art implies organization by a human being--not organization
(however
beautiful) found in nature. This organization is the foundation
of what we consider to be music theory. Composers, performers
and
listeners of music all need to understand the basic principles
of music theory in order to maximize the musical experience.
The composer
creatively organizes the musical elements into a work of art, the
performer creatively interprets and communicates this organization,
and the listener creatively receives it and organizes it
into a music experience. You can easily understand why a comprehension
of music theory is so essential to the art of music.
What is sound?
Vibrating objects set air in motion, which in turn causes the air
to move in waves. Sound is the sensation perceived by the mind when
the sound waves reach the ear. There are four
properties of sound:
-
Pitch: The highness or
lowness of a sound
-
Intensity: The loudness
or softness of a sound
-
Duration: The length of
a sound
-
Timbre: The unique quality
of the sound (tone color)
In music, as in all art, organization is critical to the
creative process. In the following sections, we will explore the
basic elements of music composers
use in their design and organization of sound in time.
 
|