Masters of Health Magazine July 2024 | Page 93

Music’s Influence Throughout History

by Steve Rees, Ret. RN, Harpist

Recently, I was asked a question that got me thinking.  The questioner asked, “How has Music influenced the path of history?” Plus, he wanted to know what information supported the idea that history might be quite different without the presence of music. With that challenge, I began to research the subject to find out.

An article at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/738578 

titled The Influence of Music in World History written by Frederick H. Martens, offers some salient observations. He points out that throughout history, music has been the "propagating current" for expressing religious practices or nationalistic ideals.

"In ancient, as in medieval and modern history, music exerts its influence on the historic event principally as the carrier of thought, one couched in magic words of incantation, the melodic summary of faith or creed, the battle-cry which epitomizes a racial or dynastic ideal, the instrumental tune which is the tonal body of the words of a nation….

Throughout the story of the human race it might be said that the musical influence makes itself felt aggressively, as a racial, national, or religious stimulant, popularizing new or already established thoughts, or conservatively, handing down national traditions, superstitions and cult ideas from generation to generation."

As I thought about this idea of the "propagating carrier," my mind went to the music of my growing-up years. It was the time of the Vietnam War, and many songs were expressing discontent and used in the demonstrations to end the war. College campuses were literal hotbeds of creative expressions, mainly through music voicing to the political leadership of our nation that they were not in agreement with the war, and wanted it to end. Music was a very effective tool to get the point across. 

In another article: https://www.mi.edu/in-the-know/musics-historical-influence-ancient-greece-modern-times  titled, Music's Historical Influence: From Ancient Greece to Modern Times, there is information on how various periods of history were affected by music.

Music's Influence During Historical Periods

Ancient Greece : Music was considered an important part of a well-rounded education in ancient Greece. It was believed that music could help to develop the mind and soul. Music was also used in religious ceremonies, theater productions, and other public events.

Medieval Europe: Music played an important role in the Christian church during the Middle Ages. A Gregorian chant was the most common type of music used in church services. A Gregorian chant is a type of chant that is sung in unison and without accompaniment. Music was also used in secular contexts during the Middle Ages. Minstrels and troubadours traveled from place to place, performing songs and stories for audiences of all social classes.