If Music Be the Food of Love: Play On

"If music be the food of love, play on", so goes Orsino's opening speech in the play Twelfth Night. How well said. Famous as an art form, music reaches us through the medium of sound and is most certainly fodder for soul. There isn't a single individual on earth who doesn't have affinity for music. According to a definition in Wikipedia "Greek philosophers and medieval theorists defined music as tones ordered horizontally as melodies, and vertically as harmonies". The traditional view perceives music to be methodic and mostly soothing and congenial to hear. Yet, many composers in the 20th century contest this "positive" outlook. They are of the opinion that music doesn't always have to be pleasing and proved this by producing harsher and darker tones. The presence of many contemporary genres like "dark metal" and "deathcore" and their huge fan following validates the existence of strident timbres as music.

It's hard to wrap up the understanding of music in one single definition as its creation, performance and significance vary according to culture and social context. Divisible into genres and sub-genres, its existence is marked by various forms, although the parting lines and relationships between music genres are often subtle, sometimes open to individual interpretation, and occasionally controversial. The fact that different people take to different kinds of music also holds true. A particular variety that is music to one's ears maybe noise for the other. But whatever be the case, it touches our lives daily. Can you imagine a day passing by without a generous sprinkling of rhythmic tones on our auditory organs? Music has been a source of entertainment for human beings since time immemorial. When in somber mood, it has the power to lift your spirits up. In fact, music is extensively used as a form of therapy. Considered as one of the expressive therapies, music helps in treating many conditions and illnesses. Music therapists are found in almost every area of the helping professions. Therapy in communication and motor skills areas stand to benefit a lot with the help of music. Familiar situations include individuals with special needs, remembrance or orientation assignments with senior citizens, processing and relaxation work, and cadenced entertainment for physical rehabilitation in stoke patients.

Although there are more than a thousand spoken languages in the world, but music, undoubtedly, is universal language of humanity. Throughout the world's history many styles of music have been developed. The major genres of music include metal, punk, rap, jazz, hip hop, pop, hard rock, alternative, experimental, Latin, country, disco, funk, classical, blues, progressive, techno, ska and reggae. Not limited to this list, these genres eventually branch off to other genres. Apart from the above classification, it can also be categorized into art, popular, traditional, fusion, and regional and national music. Those with a deeper interest in music take up historical musicology as a form of study. Internet technology has made music ubiquitous, and with the increased access and choice, it has thoroughly transformed its experience. Online communities like YouTube, RadioBlogClub, MusicIndiaOnline, etc have made listening and downloading of music a child's play. There is no better way of putting it other than in the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes (19^th century writer and physician) "Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons. You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body".