Music and emotion ?

Question

Can anyone put forward a valid theory as to how musical notes on a sheet of paper, when played can have such a profound effect on someones feelings? They are only sounds after all.
I hope you all can make sense of this question.

Answer 1

This question is a indepth topic of research for academic music theorists--it is sometimes called musical hermeneutics, or the interpretation of musical meaning. If you a really interested in learning the "theory of musical meaning," I am including a few sources below. As this is the topic of several book length studies, it would be difficult to answer your question in a short paragraph. I can tell you, however, that you answers you have received so far are not at all close to the research that has been conducted on this topic.

One thing that is important to understand about musical meaning is that its effect is not universal, contrary to popular belief, music is not the "universal language" of emotion. Music is strongly tied to both culture and time. Composers often use music that has symbolic associations with specific aspects of a culture(a "march" is associated with the military which further conjures associations of heroism, determination, victory). Composers still play off of this method of creating meaning and emotion today. Think for example of the theme to Star Wars--it is a march and carries with it the associations I outlined above each time we hear it.

As I said, this is a very complex topic. Here are some major books in this area:

"Rhythmic Gesture in Mozart," Allanbrook
"Musical Meaning in Beethoven," by Hatten
"Interpreting Musical Gestures, Topics, and Tropes," by Hatten

Answer 2

Defiantly a good question, some good answers too. I'm a musician, and i can't explain why music does what it does to us. I know that music is just a notion, it gives us ideas, you might hear a melody and think of being on a sunny island, and the idea of the island gives you a happy feeling. A melody in a minor key will sound darker, it might make you think of breaking up with someone or someone dying, and that thought brings forth the emotion. Another point to think of is, why do certain types of music give one person a certain emotional feeling, but have no effect on another? The guy who mentioned string theory really didn't have a clue though, i know a bit about that, the string theory is a theory of sub-atomic particles being made of what they describe as strings, but that guy seems to think that things are made of the actual theory itself.

Answer 3

I was told once by some one who although wasn't recognised as academically educated or clever ( they never sat an exam of any description), was yet a fountain of knowledge, a walking encyclopedia!!!! Quote; "A stupid question is one that isn't asked." I think your question is rather a good one, coz it really makes people think. What about this as food for thought? If you don't believe in God, you can suspend it whilst listening to Bach, and then go back to being an atheist. By Joan Marsh. I am a firm believer in music evoking emotions. Real powerful emotions. Songs, pieces of music can some times express words or feelings we at the time, are unable to convey ourselves and it can touch and unite millions of people/creatures universally. Don't you think? Calls of the "wild", whalesong, birdsong, the list goes on. Have you ever listened to a piece of music that instantly makes you feel or think a certain way? Can you make sense of why that music made you feel that way? When you hear that certain music again, does it evoke a memory with the same emotion??!!! Powerful stuff music aint it guys!!!!! Wouldn't the world be soooooo LIFELESS without music!!!!???xxx

Answer 4

All of our senses can bring forth emotion. If all your senses were shut down and all you could do was see and you saw someone you hadn't seen in a while that you loved how would you feel? You would cry which would be an emotion based on one sense. Think of touch. The emotion it invokes. When you are making love the touch of someone else can make you become overwhelmed with emotion. Smell is the same way. Think of the action and emotion behind it. Music is like food to the taste buds. It's pleasing because it's appealing to us. Different types of food have different appeals to different people. It's the same with music.

Answer 5

I am not musically trained at all and I cannot play any instruments. I think that I know quite a lot about popular music though.

I would say that it is a magical blend of similar and contrasting sounds, going through major and minor changes. These can create a 'soundscape' - they basically paint a musical landscape. The sound of music is a series of modulations that we physically feel in our eardrum- even people who cannot hear can feel the vibrations. It's a physical pleasure that we convert in to an emotional one in our brain. That''s the way I see it.

Answer 6

No, but I agree that music can trigger intense emotions.
I have thought about it quite a bit and I find that in order to have a strong emotional reaction to a piece of music, I will have had to heard before, rarely does a piece of music ever trigger stong emotions the first time you hear the notes.
I also find that music that is somehow tied to moments, people, or periods of time of my life provokes an emotional reaction.
I would have to guess that the emotional response to a piece of music is based in the contextual memory.

Answer 7

There is a theory that emotions are chemicals released into the body, which make us feel as we do. From this, it is probably possible to say that when the music is played, the notes act as a trigger, to which our brain responds by releasing certain chemicals based on the sequence of the frequencies of the wavelengths which our brain "hears". So, a slow, sombre piece of music may evoke a "sad" chemical to be released, whereas a fast paced, lively piece of music may evoke a "happy" chemical to be released.

Answer 8

Have you ever heard of string-theory?It is based around quantum physics/mechanics.You know we are made of atoms right?Well there are smaller receptors called string theory.(There is smaller than string but well save that for a rainy day).
Well when music is produced it cause sound waves which clash with our string theory,and gives us that feeling.
Or you could just like whatever you are listening to and you can relate to the song

Answer 9

I think its because when you hear a song play you are hearing every note and key and word and the tone of the singer's voice exactly as you heard it when you were experiencing a particular emotion. Its rare that anything else happens exactly the same as it did before.

Answer 10

I get the question but can't really say anything about a theory. It's most lilkly related to natural sounds. eg. a bang of thunder scares most people or at least get ppl worried. a crickets song is soothing.
Its most likly linked to that.