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 Steve Elcock's Symphony No. 6 is dedicated to "the everlasting execration of self-serving politicians, the obscenely rich and the system that allows them to remain so"?
- ... that husband and wife Edward M. and Marie Zimmerman co-wrote the suffragist anthem "Votes for Women: Suffrage Rallying Song"?
- ... that Felipe Lara's Pulitzer finalist Double Concerto turns its soloists into a "many-tentacled creature"?
- ... that a will bequeathing the Chestnut Street Opera House to the University of Pennsylvania was contested at the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania?
- ... that a performance by Milkie Way at the 2021 Heavy Music Awards got its Twitch stream banned for three days?
- ... that one critic interpreted a SZA song as being about her fears about the growing influence of AI in the music industry?
Today's Birthdays
- Birthdays in Music: October 8
- Fred Cash, American R&B vocalist with The Impressions, turns 84.
- Dave Arbus, Brit violinist for jazz fusion act, East of Eden, turns 83.
- Susan Raye, American country music singer, turns 80.
- Ray Royer, Brit guitarist for Procol Harum, turns 79.
- John Betsch, American drummer, turns 79.
- Tony Wilson, Trinidad-born bassist for Hot Chocolate, turns 77.
- Hamish Stuart, Scottish lead singer for funk and R&B outfit, The Average White Band, turns 75.
- Robert "Kool" Bell, American singer and bassist for Kool & the Gang, turns 74.
- Ricky Lee Phelps, American country music singer, turns 71.
- James Johnstone, Brit alto saxophonist and guitarist with Pigbag, turns 65.
- Gavin Friday, Irish singer and songwriter for Virgin Prunes, turns 65.
- Jon Ballantyne, Canadian bebop pianist, turns 61.
- MC Large Drink, (born Steve Perry) American lead vocalist for Cherry Poppin' Daddies, turns 61.
- Mitch Marine, American percussionist for Brave Combo, Tripping Daisy, turns 61.
- CeCe Winans, American gospel singer, turns 60.
- C. J. Ramone, American bassist for The Ramones, turns 59.
- Leeroy Thornhill, Brit keyboardist for The Prodigy, turns 55.
- Byron Reeder, American R&B vocalist with New Jack Swing quartet, Mista, turns 45.
- Eiji Wentz, Japanese singer, turns 39.
- Bruno Mars, an American singer-songwriter and record producer, turns 39.
- Dustin Breeding, American R&B singer for B5, a boy band, turns 37.
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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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