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 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"?
- ... 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 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 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 14
- La Monte Young, American composer, turns 89.
- Melba Montgomery, American country singer for George Jones, Charlie Louvin, and Gene Pitney, turns 86.
- Cliff Richard, British singer with The Shadows, turns 84.
- Colin Hodgkinson, Brit bassist with Whitesnake, turns 79.
- Justin Hayward, Brit composer, guitarist and singer for The Moody Blues, turns 78.
- Lukas Resetarits, Austrian cabaret artist and actor, turns 77.
- Marcia Barrett, Jamaican vocalist of Boney M fame, turns 76.
- Chris Amoo, Brit performer and songwriter for The Chants, The Real Thing, turns 72.
- Kazumi Watanabe, Japanese guitarist, turns 71.
- Thomas Dolby, British new wave music keyboardist, turns 66.
- Constantine Koukias, Australian composer, turns 59.
- Karyn White, American R&B singer, turns 59.
- Doug Virden, American country music vocalist for Sons of the Desert, turns 53.
- Shaggy 2 Dope, American rapper of Insane Clown Posse fame, turns 50.
- Natalie Maines, American country musician with Dixie Chicks, turns 50.
- Shaznay Lewis, Brit singer and songwriter with All Saints, turns 49.
- Bryan Breeding, American singer B5, a boy band, turns 30.
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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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