The Power Of Music

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The Power of Music Have you ever felt sad or angry, then a song plays on the radio and your spirits just seem grow brighter? Have you ever stubbed your toe and through the pain you start humming and the pain begins to subside? How about hearing music you don’t like played so loud that it hurts? Music has survived countless generations and has been used to heal, establish harmony, honor gods, and provoke emotions. Music has been considered a sin and has even been used for torture. It is important to note that it is not just the music but the human mind that allows these affects. As Hamlet said, "Nothing is good or bad but that thinking made it so." Can music actually have that much power over the human mind and body? Yes. To understand how, it is important to discuss some of the historical beliefs about music; the ways music has been, and is currently, viewed/used in both positive and negative ways. Just as important, is a better understanding of the scientific reasoning behind the effects. The power of music has been recognized and explored throughout history. The ancients Greeks believed music could put you in tune with the universe. They even gave offerings to honor gods that were specifically dedicated or related to music like the muses( Greek goddesses that were considered inspiration for the creation of literature and the arts). Ancient India believed music to be from divine origin, or having a godlike nature. The creation of the earth, today called the Big Bang Theory, was a sound that rang out encompassing all space (Plato). The ancient Chinese believed “the laws of music were part of the cosmic order and so affected the universe” (Rook). In Jowett’s, The Dialogues of Plato, Plato states that "in Egypt they have a tradition that their ancient chants which have been preserved for so many ages are the composition of the goddess Isis". Many of the gods and
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