Since music has been, and probably will always continue to be such a significant topic, it has stirred up so many discussions and theories over time. Not only musicologists and psychologists have tried to understand the “magic” behind the concept of music and its connection to humans and the world, but also renowned philosophers.
The first one to believe that a strong bond exists between the Universe, rhythm, and musical notes was Pythagoras. Through the work of his followers, who carried on his ideas, we can understand that, for him, harmony was more than just music. It was the idea that everything in the universe is connected and balanced, from the movement of the planets to the human soul, and that mathematics has a strong connection with everything. They discovered that musical intervals (like the octave, fifth, and fourth) could be represented by simple numerical ratios (for example, the octave, as 2:1). Basically he affirmed that the universe runs on math — so music must too.
He also noticed that some tunes helped people calm their minds and started creating compositions for different activities. Pretty much the equivalent of making a playlist nowadays to listen to during a workout, walk, study session, etc. In his school in Crotona, it was mandatory to start each day with singing. In the morning they sang songs that helped to wake up properly and stimulate motivation, while in the evening, songs that were relaxing and supported resting.
Another philosopher who shared his own perspective on this topic was Plato. He thought that music could affect a person's ethos (behavior or ethics). This belief was explored in his “Republic”, where he implied that music has the power to generate emotions because it is an imitation of the sounds we make in those emotional states. He also declared that, since music has such a strong impact on our brains and souls, leaders of the republic should only be allowed to listen to melodies that inspire courage and honesty. Therefore, any melodies that might upset the social order MUST be banned completely.
Aristotle had a similar idea, although, in his view, music wasn't just an echo of an emotional state we experience, it embodied emotions entirely. Sounds ambiguous, so let’s break it down. Imagine Plato and Aristotle sit at a table and talk about why sad music makes us sad. Plato says it’s because it imitates the way people sound when they feel unhappy (like talking in a slow tempo and a low pitch). However Aristotle argues that sad music works because it represents sadness itself—when we hear it, we feel sorrowful, thus the music directly conveys the emotion.
Even though, all these great ideas have some differences in perspectives and beliefs, there is a strong common ground they stand on: music does influence our emotions and state of mind. Whilst the “why” is different from everyone's point of view, rhythm, and tones are certainly impressive forces that connect on a deeper level with the human mind and soul
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