What Does Understandable Music Meaning Mean?

What Does Understandable Music Meaning Mean?

Since I discuss music’s meaning so often I need to explain exactly what is meant by the terminology “understandable musical meaning”.  It refers to information, insights, and understandings that are received from the music part of the music (the arrangement of the formal properties of the music). “Formal properties” refers to the rhythm, melody, harmony, sounds, and silences etc. (not merely the form of the piece) that are combined into a congruent whole which conveys real life meaning.  This information arouses emotional mental states; it arouses passions and cognitions that cause the listener to muse (think).  It is the responsibility of the worship leader to guard, as much as is possible, the thoughts of the performers and the listeners who experience the music in the context of Christian worship.

My view is different than many music philosophers who believe that music has meaning but that it’s meaning is “music’s alone” and is in no related to real life outside of the formal properties of the music.  Some believe that music’s meaning evokes a “garden variety” of emotions but that these emotions are or are not triggered by the music part of the music per se while others believe that emotions are triggered by the music part of the music but what is aroused or triggered does not have real life Consequently they suppose that its meaning that is aroused from these “garden variety” of emotions are part of a closed system that doesn’t relate to the real world.  Still others believe that the formal properties of the music contain symbols but that these symbols only give information and or understanding into a person’s “true humanness” and that this is somehow accomplished without real world relationship. (See Chapter 8)  Others believe that all of music’s meaning is referential and therefore only gives insights that are extra musical.

Thought for the Day

It seems strange to me that a music philosopher could believe that music arouses emotions in the listener, but at the same time believe that these emotions do not relate to real life experiences.