Portal:Music
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 from 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 Felipe Lara's Pulitzer finalist Double Concerto turns its soloists into a "many-tentacled creature"?
- ... 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 Oksana Lyniv founded the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in 2016 and conducted them in thirty concerts across ten music festivals in 2022?
- ... that Wilner Burke was the director of the Lumberjack Band, the marching band of the Green Bay Packers, for 42 years?
- ... that a will bequeathing the Chestnut Street Opera House to the University of Pennsylvania was contested at the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania?
- ... that husband and wife Edward M. and Marie Zimmerman co-wrote the suffragist anthem "Votes for Women: Suffrage Rallying Song"?
Today's Birthdays
- Birthdays in Music: August 17
- John Seiter, of Spanky and Our Gang, turns 80.
- Gary Talley, American vocalist, lead guitarist, electric sitar player for Box Tops, turns 77.
- Kevin Rowland, singer, songwriter, and former frontman for Dexys Midnight Runners, turns 71.
- Eric Johnson (guitarist, born 1954), American guitarist, turns 70.
- Kevin Welch, American singer-songwriter, turns 69.
- Colin Moulding, British songwriter, vocalist, and bassist for XTC, turns 69.
- Belinda Carlisle, American singer, lead vocalist for The Go-Go's, turns 66.
- Gilby Clarke, American musician, singer, and songwriter formerly of Guns N' Roses and Slash's Snakepit, turns 62.
- Colin James, Canadian composer and blues guitarist, turns 60.
- Maria McKee, American singer of Lone Justice fame, turns 60.
- Steve Gorman, American drummer for The Black Crowes, turns 59.
- Jill Cunniff, American bassist for Luscious Jackson, turns 58.
- Donnie Wahlberg, American actor and member of New Kids On The Block, turns 55.
- Posdnuos, (nee Kelvin Mercer) of De La Soul, turns 55.
- Claire Richards, British singer with Steps, turns 47.
- George Melly, British jazz pianist and blues singer, turns 98.
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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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