Portal:Music
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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 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 Wilner Burke was the director of the Lumberjack Band, the marching band of the Green Bay Packers, for 42 years?
- ... that one critic interpreted a SZA song as being about her fears about the growing influence of AI in the music industry?
- ... 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 a will bequeathing the Chestnut Street Opera House to the University of Pennsylvania was contested at the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania?
- ... that Max Weil, founder of the Halifax Symphony Orchestra, spent his later years in real estate?
- ... 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: September 22
- Marlena Shaw, American jazz vocalist, turns 82.
- King Sunny Adé, Nigerian musician, singer and songwriter, turns 78.
- David Coverdale, American vocalist with Deep Purple, Whitesnake, turns 73.
- Debby Boone, American vocalist, turns 68.
- Johnette Napolitano, American bassist, songwriter, and lead vocalist for Concrete Blonde, turns 67.
- Nick Cave, Australian vocalist with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, turns 67.
- Andrea Bocelli, Renowned opera singer, turns 66.
- Joan Jett, American rock and roll musician, turns 66.
- Shari Belafonte, American singer and actress; daughter to Harry Belafonte, turns 66.
- Ken Vandermark, American jazz saxophonist, turns 60.
- Andy Cairns, guitarist and vocalist for Therapy?, turns 59.
- Matt Sharp, American bassist for Weezer, turns 55.
- Rah Digga, American rapper, turns 54.
- Chesney Hawkes, Brit vocalist, turns 53.
- Big Rube, American R&B singer with Society of Soul and Dungeon Family, turns 53.
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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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