Meaning of Music

An essay on Leonard Bernstein - Young People's Concerts: What Does Music Mean?

---

Leonard Bernstein, the American conductor and composer, inspires people with his Young People's Concerts. He converses with his audience about music itself, and the actual meaning of it. He convinces the audience that ''Music is never about anything; music is just is. Music is notes.'' Bernstein highlights that music is actually just music, and nothing more. Music does not have to have a story or meaning.



Music compositions are often associated with certain moods or atmospheres; the reasoning being that that was what we were told by movies and television. Bernstein stated that if there is a story connected to the music, then it gives the piece an extra meaning; but it being extra is clearly underlined, and is nothing more. In actuality, the meaning of music is to gain the pleasure of that rhythm.

A composition is uplifting because it was written to be uplifting, with the sole reason of it being a musical reason. However, each and every person would take away different emotions from a single music sheet. Every person has experienced unique lives and will be associating the music with their personal experiences. ''[The] notes on the piano don't tell us ideas, they're about music.'' Bernstein expresses. Music is such a susceptive art form that everyone takes away another aspect of the composition, all the while the music continues on being just that: music.

''Its just part of human nature to like to listen to music.'' - Leonard Bernstein

---

“Leonard Bernstein - Young People’s Concerts: What Does Music Mean?” YouTube, YouTube, 12 June 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6JsfDIo4TA&list=PLU0HyYmOgH8Xn06fDThwLDh95igfZpurQ.

24.10.2023