The celebration of Music Day, pioneered by Jack Lang, the then French minister of Culture, constitutes an annual ritual across the globe. Music, says Shakespeare, is “the food of love”. It is a language that transcends all barriers and is by far the most interesting and universal of all art forms, more widely appreciated than painting and writing. Ease of travel and communications has initiated many music-lovers to other musics. It trascends all ethnic and geographic barriers and prejudices are broken down.

Where politics has failed, music can succeed. Concerts are organised for fund-raising to combat scourges like AIDS. A national anthem with a national flag provides a focus of loyalty. In international competitions, it instils in olympic medallists a sense of pride and patriotism. Football club songs inculcate into fans loyalty and encouragement, cheer them up and maintain confidence whereas military music excites the physical and mental powess of the soldiers.

Next to being in love, music is the most powerful emotional force in our lives. Shakespeare said: “He that hath no music in him is dangerous.” Music pervades our life. Certain pieces of music might bring back highly personal memories - for example the Beatles of the swinging 60s. Music can trigger a wide spectrum of emotions like lumps in the throat, eyes welling up, a trembling lower lip. Music can also cause many skin sensations - goose bumps, shivers down the spine, and so on. It can get the pulse racing and the heart thudding. Music conveys emotions through instrumental or vocal techniques. It is astounding that the blending of sounds and voices can arouse such emotions.

In the womb the foetus experiences a feeling of serenity, when its mother relaxes as it responds to the steady beat of her heart. He needs to be rocked by a lullaby as he grows. Music is also important in the cultural dimension of the human personality. It contributes to the development of an individual’s personality and behaviour.

We cannot escape the influence of music. Classical music has stood the test of time. World music transports us to different countries without a passport. Religious music contributes to the atmosphere of fervour and sanctity of rituals. No film can exist without any soundtrack; the latter creates the atmosphere to match the story. Nowadays music is synthetic and computerised. Unfortunately, some associate it with drugs, sex and violence. Shockingly, a certain type of music propounds the cult of Satan - a danger to our social fabric. Anyway let us hope that music will contribute to play a positive role in our life and we shall not pervert its essence.

<B> Philip LI CHING HUM</B>