“Music,” as the poet Congreve put it, “hath charms to soothe the savage breast”…but its calming effect, though important, is not the whole story…For centuries armies setting off to war have needed the extra impetus of the stirring rhythms of a military band to give them courage. Lately we have had unpleasant reports of American soldiers invading Iraq to the sound of heavy rhythms with bloodthirsty messages pounding through their headphones. Here the effect seems to be not only to give courage [of a sort] but also to cut off the invaders from the reality of the destruction they are inflicting

On a more positive and peaceful note, music has also been used to voice protest against war. One famous example was the musical “Hair” at the time of America’s involvement in Vietnam. Many musicians have also played important roles in fundraising for good causes such as famine relief in Africa- charity concerts by famous stars can raise thousands of dollars in a single evening.

For the vast majority of people however, music is simply a source of pleasure in everyday life- although for those involved in its production it is also a way of earning their living. For the lucky few, especially in the world of popular music, it may bring fame and fortune practically overnight .As for the composer and performer of classical music, theirs is a highly emotional experience as they express their deepest feelings in their work. It may also represent a search for perfection on their part. For composers of sacred music such as Bach and Handel, composition was an act of worship.

Music entertains, stimulates, relaxes- babies and young children love it in the form of lullabies and nursery songs; it plays an important part in the early years of schooling as a form of self-expression. Background music is used in shopping centers and supermarkets to influence the mood of shoppers –and of course to make them spend more freely- and in planes to get passengers relaxed before take-off. No party or aerobics class could take place without music and it is just as essential in radio and television programmes as it is in films. .

Music can be a unifying force- a concert can bring vast numbers of people together in a mood of fun and celebration. It may also be a source of national pride, as an expression of a particular culture such as the flamenco music of Spain. In the past, important historical events have been marked by musical compositions such as Tchaikovsky’s famous 1812 Overture which commemorates Napoleon’s retreat from Russia. Closer to our own times, the Italian tenor Pavarotti’s inimitable performance of the Nessun Dorma from Turandot is forever linked in people’s minds to football and the World Cup !

Some parents complain that music [or more precisely the musicians who produce it] has a negative effect on young people.There is of course nothing new about this –in their day Elvis Presley and the Beatles were seen as quite shocking by the older generation. What scandalizes today is the ‘explicit’ language of some singers especially the rappers and the fact that certain performers put across sinister and disturbing messages that in some cases have led to very unfortunate incidents.