The music

1. Music is the language of souls; it has the power to shake the heart with electrical vibrations. It has a soul from the psyche and a mind from the heart. It has always been, and still is, the talk of hearts, moving the emotions of kings and the poor alike, in palaces and in the desert. Music drives away the darkness of the soul and illuminates the heart, and the soul is like a mirror on which the images of imagination and phantoms reflecting emotions are cast. Music originated from the voice of the bird that converses with the flowers of the field, imitates the branches of trees, mimics the gurgling of streams, and calls out to all of nature. Humans do not understand what the bird, the streams, or the waves are saying, nor do they comprehend what the rain recounts or what the breeze tells the field’s flowers, but they feel that their heart understands and perceives the meaning of all these sounds. It sometimes trembles with delight and sometimes sighs in grief and sadness; it stands tongue-tied, perplexed, and perhaps tears speak on its behalf, tears being the most eloquent translator. Love, the mother of all emotions and feelings, made Christ weep for Lazarus. The Jews said: “See how he loved him…” So when Christ saw his sister weeping, and the Jews who came with her crying, He was troubled in spirit and deeply moved, and finally, Christ wept. (Gospel of John 11: 33-36).

2. Now let us see the status of music and contemplate its effect in the history of humankind: the Chaldeans and Egyptians worshiped it as a great god to whom homage was paid and glory given. The Persians and Indians believed it to be the spirit of God among humans, considering that the harmony of melodies strengthened hope in eternal life. Among the Greeks and Romans, music was a powerful deity they called Apollo, holding a lyre in his left and right hands on the strings, his head raised and his eyes looking into the distance. They said that the ringing of Apollo’s strings echoed the sounds of nature: tones transmitted from the birds’ songs, flowing waters, gentle breezes, and rustling tree branches. Their myths tell that the sounds of Orpheus’s lyre moved the hearts of animals, plants, livestock, birds of the sky, and even the fish of the sea… Flowers stretched their necks toward Orpheus, branches leaned toward him, and inanimate objects moved and shattered. This confirms what the prophet Job said: “Ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you”. (Job 12: 7-8). The Greeks said that Orpheus lost his wife and mourned her, and nature wept for his crying until the hearts of the gods softened, opening the gates of eternity for him to meet his beloved in the world of spirits. All of this took place on an island in the sea called by the Greeks the Island of Music and Songs. They said the waves shaped mournful tunes from these sounds, filling the ether and heard by sailors. The influence of music in the hearts of the Greeks was profound and great, and their expressions about it were poetically exaggerated, originating from tender emotions reflecting love—the love of gods and beauty. Among the Assyrians, music was a symbol of glory in festivities and a symbol of happiness in celebrations. Music was the tongue of all nations: their deities were praised with hymns and glorified with melodies, and chants—still present today—were obligatory like prayers in temples and churches, beginning with the soul’s emotions, prayers refined by the heart and perfected by the vibrations of feelings in the chants. Free breaths mixed with words stirred by King David’s repentance filled his songs with praise, singing, and cheers for the King of Glory, and his repentance invented affecting melodies born from the emotions of contrition and sorrow of the soul. As a mediator, his psalms stood between him and God, asking forgiveness for his missteps, as if the sounds of his lyre came from his crushed heart, and his psalms became great before God and people. He said: “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the psaltery and harp, praise him with the timbrel and dance; praise him with stringed instruments and organs; praise him upon the loud cymbals; praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord”. (Psalm 150). “Sing to the Lord with the lute, with the lute and the voice of melody. With trumpets and sound of the cornet, shout before the King, the Lord. Let the sea roar and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein. Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing together before the Lord…” (Psalm 98). “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him, O sun and moon. Praise Him, all you shining stars… Praise the Lord from the earth, O dragons and all deeps. Fire and hail, snow and vapour, wind and storm fulfilling His word, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying fowl, kings of the earth and all people, princes and all judges of the earth, both young men and virgins, old men and children; let them praise the name of the Lord: for His name alone is exalted”. (Psalm 148). “Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the faithful and righteous… Let them praise His name with dance, with drum and lute let them sing to Him… let them sing upon their couches. Let God’s praises be in their mouths…”. (Psalm 149). The disciples of Jesus Christ praised Him before going to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26: 30), where their teacher was seized, and this note of their hymn came from the depths of sad souls witnessing what would befall the Apostle of Peace and Love. That was a moving tune emerging from the farewell word, which made Apostle Peter weep bitterly. At the end of time, angels from heaven will blow trumpets across the world, awakening the dead and making them stand before the Judge when those in the graves hear the sound. The Apostle John, writer of the Book of Revelation, exalted music, assigning it the status of a messenger from God to human souls.

3. On the other hand, music leads armies to war, renewing soldiers’ determination and strengthening them for battle, gathering them like gravity into unbreakable ranks. This is what Hitler and others did. Hitler made music march ahead of them like a great leader, instilling in their weak and frail bodies strength beyond description and zeal awakening in their hearts the love of victory, overcoming hunger, thirst, and fatigue, defending with all the power in their bodies. Behind the music, they marched with joy and ecstasy, following death into enemy lands. Hitler thus used the holiest of the universe to spread the world’s evils… And a newborn is greeted by relatives and family with songs of joy and hymns while he cries and wails; they respond with exultation and cheers. When the infant cries, the mother approaches and sings in a musical voice filled with tenderness and gentleness, so he stops crying, finds comfort in his mother’s melodies, and then sleeps. The infant only sleeps on the tender mother’s chest, overcoming insomnia and feeling tranquility and security because of the melody and tunes of his mother’s voice. Therefore, follow love but be serious with spiritual talents, as the Apostle Paul said, and the Lord blesses those endowed with sweetness of voice, gifted with understanding of melody and rhythm, and granted composition to glorify the Lord. Chants and musical melodies stir and excite latent human emotions, affect various states, and drive one to prayer, praise, and hymn with stronger devotion, painting phantoms of the heart filled with hope, pushing towards greater love and worship of God, directing inclinations of the soul and shaping thoughts to approach God more closely… Therefore, music teaches humans to see with their hearing and listen with their hearts. Music taught the prophet David prayer, repentance, and love. It was a vessel of the bitterness and sweetness of his affection. It was the product of his human heart: the fruit of his sorrow and the flower of his joy and glorification. It was a scent rising from the energy of his gathered emotional flowers. Music was the tongue of his love and glorification of God, also broadcasting the secrets of his repentant heart. It shaped the bitter tears from latent emotions in Peter’s heart when he denied his Lord and teacher, uniting his thoughts so he repented. It composed emotions from the effects of beauty in King Solomon’s heart when he described the love of Shulamite in the “Song of Songs.” Music was the wine of hearts and the purifier of the souls of the worshippers.

4. On the psychological level, music alone, with its swift magic, can calm a restless mood and soothe an anxious mind. Practicing music is a more effective tool than almost anything else because rhythm and harmony penetrate deeply into the soul. Undoubtedly, music influences minds and hearts and can be used to guide them either toward good or evil, toward faith or disbelief. For example, it is believed that exposing young children to certain types of music can enhance their intellectual and emotional development. In contrast, the Nazis used stirring march music to prepare large crowds to listen to Hitler’s enchanting speeches. Hence, there are certainly benefits attributable to the power of music. Yet the danger lies in the possibility that corrupt individuals may wield this power as a deadly instrument. Some studies have shown a direct link between antisocial behavior and certain types of music. Psychology Today notes that rock music can have the same effect as viewing pornographic art. Aggression is vividly described, and lyrics in some rap music are sexually explicit, which is considered offensive by society. Like rap, heavy metal music is associated with disruptive and aggressive behavior among adolescents, as well as sexual promiscuity, suicide, and antisocial conduct.
God endowed humanity with both language and music. Just as language speaks to our intellect, music speaks to our emotions. Musical elements, the way our brains process them, our emotional constitution, and our cultural background all affect our response to music — just as they do to language. Every musical instrument has its unique voice, and composers use the distinctive qualities of music to create specific emotional effects. Rhythm is the first element we recognize, perhaps even before birth, when we hear our mother’s heartbeat. It is said that the beat of our own heart or even our breathing subtly influences our response to musical rhythm. It may not be coincidental that most people seem to prefer a tempo between 70 and 100 beats per minute—the same as the heart rate. The melancholic sound of the bassoon in a Mozart concerto stirs deep feelings, while the plaintive tone of the Japanese flute touches hearts softly. The tenor saxophone preserves the blues in many minds, and the German tuba awakens a sense of vigor and vitality. The rhythmic melodies of violins, like the waltzes of Strauss, inspire many to dance. These effects occur because music communicates with the human being in its entirety. Harmony produces pleasing sounds, while discord creates unpleasant ones; both complement each other. The continuous interplay between consonance and dissonance generates a rising tension, often imperceptible. Music based solely on consonance becomes monotonous, whereas dissonant music alone can be nerve-wracking. Melody is the harmonious sequence of individual notes. The word derives from the Greek melos, meaning “song.” A melody is pleasing music; closely spaced notes can produce a delightful tune, whereas different arrangements of notes may convey sorrow or joy. When all these elements converge, they create powerful forces capable of evoking or calming emotions. This is due to the diverse ways our brains perceive and process music: language and logic are functions of the left hemisphere, while music is largely processed in the right hemisphere, which governs emotions. Music possesses the power to generate feelings rapidly and effectively, with a closer link between hearing and emotion than between sight and emotion. Observing a wounded animal or a suffering person may evoke slight empathy, but hearing their cries triggers a stronger emotional response. A listener’s reaction to a particular song reflects their mental state and past experiences. One person may hear a song and recall memories that bring sorrow or tears, while another may sing it joyfully. Within each of us lies a unique reservoir of emotions that music can awaken, prompting individual responses. Music helps connect words or ideas with feelings; for example, television advertisements paired with suitable music can influence emotions even if the accompanying words lack logic. The purpose of most advertisements is to appeal emotionally, not rationally.
Heavy metal and rap lyrics are often obscure due to the volume of the music, but whether the words are understood or not, the message comes across through rhythm and repetition. These musical genres create mental images of authority, power, sexual exploits, rebellion, violence, substance abuse, promiscuity, deviance, and even satanic imagery. Anger, resistance, and dominance expressed in heavy metal may resonate with school underachievers. In rock concerts, music can heighten emotional intensity, leading audiences to surrender blindly to fleeting emotions — a highly dangerous influence. Thus, to avoid corrupting mind and heart, one must be selective with music. Today, music is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Misery, early death, and suicide mark the lives of some very successful musicians. Ample evidence suggests certain types of music can degrade morally, emotionally, and spiritually, potentially leading to violent and antisocial behavior. Nevertheless, a balanced perspective is essential. While much in music may be inappropriate or poor, some music enriches life and provides joy and fulfillment. Music can improve emotional and spiritual states. The Psalms, literary masterpieces, songs of praise, and prayers are read and sung worldwide, often accompanied by beautiful music, effectively linking divine wisdom with human emotion. Research indicates that regular exposure to melodious music, such as psalms, enhances a child’s learning and emotional development. Moderation and discernment are key in all musical choices, as well as in the duration of listening or practicing. Protect your ears to safeguard your emotions, heart, and mind. The Apostle Paul said: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship”. (Romans 12: 1) Clearly, our emotions are part of this living sacrifice. If we ever find our emotions being distorted by music, clouding judgment and misdirecting activities, it is time to reconsider our listening habits. Music has the power to influence hearts and minds toward good or evil. Musical ability is encoded in the human brain from birth; music is the language of the soul, resonating between the singer’s spirit and the listeners’. Without receptive souls, the singer loses passion. Music is like a sensitive stringed instrument; if the strings slacken, it loses its essence.

5. Musical appreciation is innate in all of us. While simple mathematical rules determine rhythm, music transcends cold logic, touching us deeply. Just as timely words are virtuous (Proverbs 15: 23), so too is a timely song comforting. Music is like food: the right kind in the right measure nourishes, while the wrong kind harms, whether in small or large amounts. Unfortunately, what harms us in music is often most appealing. Beautiful melodies are frequently paired with vulgar words, and modern music often emphasizes sex, violence, and drug use. But should we care about the message if the melody pleases us? To answer, consider: if someone wanted to poison us, would they put the poison in vinegar or candy? Similarly, as Job asked: “Does the ear test words as the palate tastes food?”. (Job 12: 11) Therefore, we must evaluate not only the melody but also the lyrics. Beautiful music accompanied by harmful words influences our thoughts and attitudes. If we fail to feel the corrupting effect of lyrics emphasizing sex, violence, or drugs, the poison may already be taking hold. Peer pressure and the music industry also shape our tastes. Through radio, TV, and the internet, music has become a powerful, multi-billion-dollar industry. Savvy marketers manipulate our musical preferences. While music affects people differently, it should refresh the heart without stifling the spirit. Just as nutritious food benefits us in moderation, good music nourishes, but excess can be harmful (Proverbs 25: 16). King David loved music and was a talented musician and psalmist, even crafting his own instruments (2 Chronicles 7: 6). Yet he did not become enslaved to music; instead, he used his gifts to glorify God.
Thus, we can follow David’s example, enjoying music without letting it dominate our lives, and using it to enhance life’s joy. Musical ability is a divine gift. As James wrote: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights”. (James 1: 17). Music can help us relax and fill our solitude, but it cannot replace true friends. We should cultivate musical taste, exploring diverse genres, learning to play an instrument, and finding time amid TV and digital distractions. Playing music is not only enjoyable and expressive, but it broadens our appreciation for styles beyond those promoted commercially. Practice may be challenging, but mastering a piece brings satisfaction and accomplishment. In all things, music should enrich life while maintaining balance.

Clive Robbins (Music Therapy)
William Congreve (Hymn of Melodies).

              Dr. Antoin Jaajaa
          (Clinical Psychology)
       antoinjaajaa@gmail.com