Music is the melodious or harmonious combination of sounds.
It is an element of our Culture. It is a powerful universal means of
communication. "Etymologically speaking, the word derives from the Greek
word Mousikos, relative to the Muses, the figures of Greek and Roman mythology.
The word refers to “technique”, which is also derived from the greek word
techne. Originally the term did not indicate a particular art, but all the arts
of the Muses, so it was referred to something that was “perfect”. Even though this etymology is useful it fails
to tell us much about the true origins of music.
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| Traditional African/Cameroonian music and musical instruments. Photo Taken during a trip in the deep areas of the Center region Photo Didier De Masso |
The history of music is fascinating. Showing marked
variations across cultures especially with musical instruments. However, music has served either a
functional (serving as artistic works, as cultural symbols and religious rituals) or contemplative
role. Music has always been a universal language. In Africa cradle of civilisation and birth of
music, vocal music has marked its people and gradually influenced the fabrication
of musical instruments such as membranophones, which produce sound by a vibrating
membrane e.g. drums; idiophones, which produce sound by vibrating themselves
e.g. flutes; chordophones, which produce sound by vibrating strings e.g. lyres;
and aerophones, which produce sound by vibrating columns of air e.g. pipes. Drums are the oldest religious ritualistic
musical instruments of the African society. Music in Africa like most practices
is functional, purposive. Making it least entertaining. Music in Europe and
North America is a recent practice tightly linked to the evolution of visual
arts.
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| Technology today is playing a great part in the making of music. Is the problem technology or the type of technology and the period in which it is used? Here DJs perfoming at music show in prelude to the Music Day June 21st 2017 at the Goethe Institute Kamerun Photo Didier De Masso |
36 years ago Jacque Lang, then Minister of Culture in France
created the concept of World Music Day. As
the world celebrates Music day each 21st June, today marks for me a reflection
on my experience of music which is at the same time technological and
psychological/spiritual. My first true experience with music was with the vocal
music of my dad, then his vinyl, then the cassettes and later the CDs and DVDs.
Today my music is stored in the disk drive of my laptop or my smart phone. My
relation to music has changed also during the years, getting enriched to
encompass music from virtually all parts of the world. What has always fascinated
me is the construction and depth of certain musical pieces over others. I have
always been amazed by the marked variation between classical music for instance
and vocal music. The impact of the former has been much more consistent on me
than the later. I have also realised that music is having a different
psychological impact. Music now seems to be louder, and faster and devoid of
content, sense or direction. Almost artificial, the paradox is in itself
troubling since the essence of music per se is not maintained but is now completely
shattered. How can a soul live without music, an essential component of it?
Music seems to be disconnected from its creators. It can be understood though; because
the essence of music has been tainted by the digital age, globalisation and
capitalism. The functional aspect of it fading systematically and giving way to
its contemplative role. Well, I wonder how music will sound like in 50 years
from now. When technology would have
totally permeated our minds and our spiritual essence completely dissolved in
the noise. I think it is impossible for the intellectual construction of a musical-arts-piece
to be separated from the techniques and technology used in creating it.
Nowadays, essentially and truly very paradoxically, we are now assisting to a deep
regression in the soul and spirit of Music.
However, in spites of the fact that the creation of music is chaning its essence, my gratitude to musicians of the
entire world, past present and future is total. With music I have travelled around
the world several times and like never before. I have understood how humanity
is so much linked albeit differences.I have seen the love and bond it creates. Music is truely good for the soul. Indeed tet’s thank all the musicians of
the past and today, artists who make us Love life and Culture much more because
of Music, Their Music. Don 't stop creating music!
