The Music Portal
Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all human societies. Definitions of music vary widely in substance and approach. While scholars agree that music is defined by a small number of specific elements, there is no consensus as to what these necessary elements are. Music is often characterized as a highly versatile medium for expressing human creativity. Diverse activities are involved in the creation of music, and are often divided into categories of composition, improvisation, and performance. Music may be performed using a wide variety of musical instruments, including the human voice. It can also be composed, sequenced, or otherwise produced to be indirectly played mechanically or electronically, such as via a music box, barrel organ, or digital audio workstation software on a computer.
Music often plays a key role in social events and religious ceremony. The techniques of making music are often transmitted as part of a cultural tradition. Music is played in public and private contexts, highlighted at events such as festivals and concerts for various different types of ensembles. Music is used in the production of other media, such as in soundtracks to films, TV shows, operas, and video games.
Listening to music is a common means of entertainment. The culture surrounding music extends into areas of academic study, journalism, philosophy, psychology, and therapy. The music industry includes songwriters, performers, sound engineers, producers, tour organizers, distributors of instruments, accessories, and publishers of sheet music and recordings. Technology facilitating the recording and reproduction of music has historically included sheet music, microphones, phonographs, and tape machines, with playback of digital musics being a common use for MP3 players, CD players, and smartphones. (Full article...)
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Did you know (auto-generated)
- ... that a performance by Milkie Way at the 2021 Heavy Music Awards got its Twitch stream banned for three days?
- ... that Steve Elcock's Symphony No. 6 is dedicated to "the everlasting execration of self-serving politicians, the obscenely rich and the system that allows them to remain so"?
- ... that Max Weil, founder of the Halifax Symphony Orchestra, spent his later years in real estate?
- ... that one critic interpreted a SZA song as being about her fears about the growing influence of AI in the music industry?
- ... that Felipe Lara's Pulitzer finalist Double Concerto turns its soloists into a "many-tentacled creature"?
- ... that Samuel Barber said that he could not adequately play his own Piano Sonata?
Today's Birthdays
- Birthdays in Music: October 17
- Michael Eavis, Brit dairy farmer and founder of the Glastonbury Festival, turns 89.
- Gary Puckett, American singer, turns 82.
- Cameron Mackintosh, acclaimed British theatre producer, turns 78.
- David St. Hubbins, fictitious lead guitarist for Spinal Tap, turns 77.
- Joseph Bowie, American bandleader, trombonist, and Defunkt founder, turns 71.
- Alan Jackson, American country music singer and songwriter, turns 66.
- Howard Alden, American guitarist, turns 66.
- Anne Rogers, Brit bassist for Popinjays, turns 62.
- Rene Dif, (aka MEGA-Aqua) Danish-Algerian vocalist for Aqua, turns 57.
- Ziggy Marley, Jamaican born reggae singer for Melody Makers, turns 56.
- Chris Kirkpatrick, American countertenor vocalist with NSYNC, a multi-platinum recording boy band, turns 53.
- Eminem, (nee Marshall Mathers) American rapper and lyricist, turns 52.
- Wyclef Jean, (nee Nelust Wyclef Jean) Haitian-born singer, songwriter with The Fugees, turns 52.
- Sergio Andrade, American bassist from Lifehouse, turns 46.
- Dami Im, Korean born Australian singer, songwriter, turns 36.
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WikiProjects connected with music: WikiProject Music – Songs – Albums – Alternative music - Classical music – Composers – Contemporary Christian music – Contemporary music – Electronic music – Emo music – Hip hop – Instruments – Led Zeppelin - Metal music – Jazz – Musicians – Opera – Panic at the Disco – Powderfinger (band) – Punk music – Record Labels – Record Production – Rock music – R&B and Soul Music – Terminology – The Beatles
Create a requested article: See the list of Requested articles.
Improve an article: See the Music Noticeboard for a list of tasks.
Start a music course: School of Music at Wikiversity
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