Musica electronica- Electronic Music
From the modern scientific point of view the world is made out of 118 elements of Mendeleev periodic system constructing our universe which each, consists of smaller particles like protons, neutrons and electrons, each one consisting of quarks and micro leptons. Whereas from the ancient philosophical point of view the universe is made out of 4 elements in their abstract form, which are known as Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Same as the difference between the binary and decimal numbering systems, there is a basic difference between the two ways of perception to the world from each point views.
The way these 4 elements mix in a new-born creature or a type of plant or food, which will affect the quality of its nature, is called Temperament.
Temperament, as an individual factor, has great importance in traditional medicine where temperament is defined as the most important cause of individual differences. Depending on the temperament of every person, its reaction to the input of alimentations whether as food or medicine or as sensory input for its five ministers, will turn out to be different. Effects of Music as a Therapeutic Element
What we perceive through our cognitive senses can affect our mood, state of perception from our surrounding world and our state of mind. Just as a bad smell can actually revolt us on a physiological level, a good scent can directly have a profound effect not only on our mood but certainly a direct effect on our physiological functions.Actually the 5 senses are 5 ministers with their faces towards the world around us, conveying their perceptions to “self”. What these ministers convey inward the “self”, are actually sensory alimentations for the soul, which could cause diverse consequences, the same as any alimentation for the body. Depending on the temperament of every person – as will be discussed further on- its reaction differs to the input of alimentations whether as food or medicine for body or as sensory alimentations for its five ministers.Smelling the scent of Lavender, seeing the depth of a blue sky, tasting a Mexican chili, sensing the caress of a nocturnal breeze; just as other 4 cognitive senses, hearing can also alter our way of perception of the world around us.Unique Effects of Electronic Music on Mental Functions
Tu puedes hacer tu propia musica electrónica- You can make your own electronic music
Electronic Music, because of its non-acoustic nature (and in some cases having algorithmic specifications) thus its tones, bearing unusual dynamic ranges and colours having unconventional sound qualities, stimulates the brain into surfing new territories, which can alter the self-state, forcing our brain to stimulate unused cognitive abilities for processing them. Actually listening to some kinds of electronic music gives us a sense of organically generated sound, bearing atmosphere of supramundane uncharted territories.Effects of Rhythm and Beat on Measuring The Time, Sleep and Consciousness
For our brain, rhythm and beats can actually be like the gauges for the sensation of progression of time.
All of us have had the same experience of being in a stage between sleep and wakefulness when consciousness is partially suspended- during travelling in a bus or car. In such a stage, while our eyes are closed and when our brain can’t measure the time by a meter such as a rhythm, we mostly feel that we have travelled nearly 100 km, however it’s surprising as we open our eyes, noticing that we have barely travelled 5 km once seeing the signs on the road. Whereas listening to a rhythm in such a stage of semi-wakefulness, it gives us a meter.Thus listening to a pulse-less or very slow rhythm makes us more likely to go to this stage of unconsciousness and sleep, but a rhythm especially an upbeat one can keep the mind in a higher level of consciousness.For this reason pulse-less music can induce a sense of floating or somnolence whereas an up-beat music can elevate our mood and energy state by letting us to be more alert about the units which time is being counted upon. Actually an up-beat pattern pervades a new constructed space, which is being counted by the pulses of the rhythms.Syncopation and Wakefulness and Long Distance Driving
When listening to a music while being in the stage between sleep and wakefulness, having syncopation in the rhythm can surly make us alert and feeling awake. Therefore music with inconstant and diverse patterns of beats, which vary time to time unexpectedly, is more likely to cause wakefulness. Therefore music with a plenty of syncopations can be useful while driving in a highway or during long distance driving to prevent somnolence.Upbeat, low pace beats and meditative state
When the pulses are regular with partially equal accents without so many offbeat emphasis, it can create a sense of concentration specially when the musical theme is repeated, same as a mantra, it can induce a sense of meditation.Actually having a constant pulsating pattern can drive the mind into focusing on a course of thinking but because of the pulsating pattern the mind will sense a current, moving into a measured route, which can cause a sense of meditation. Imagine listening to a pulse-less electronic sound and entering into a realm of serenity and peaceful thoughts, as the upbeat rhythm begins, your thoughts pour into smaller containers of measured space (formed by the beats).Relief from Anxiety by Listening to Music
Actually anxiety is the state of a scattered mind, which in fractions of seconds focuses on diverse problems spontaneously and unconsciously. Therefore a music with an upbeat (authorizing), slow pace (not forcing) rhythm with a minimalistic structure (not distracting) can help the course of thinking to be poured into a neat order, causing less frequent switching of the mind hence bringing about a more peaceful mood.MelodyMinimalistic structure of the melody having repetitive short and simple motifs helps the mind to be organized and clear.Relief from Obsession by Listening to MusicRhythmThe core reason of a depressed mind is that it focuses constantly on mainly one or more problems that one is carrying with him, like a haunting thought, which won’t set him free, that finally concocts obsessive thoughts or behaviours. In fact, psychiatrics prescribe antidepressant medications, which actually increase the amount of adrenalin and noradrenalin in presynaptic or postsynaptic spaces that cause stimulating the nerves, firing towards different directions so that it makes it really hard for the patient’s mind to focus on something, meaning the obsessive thought.Therefore music with syncopations (distracting and unpredictability) and offbeat pattern (in which the accent is not on the main basic beat but on the next one) results in feeling a sense of erraticism (alteration and anticipation), that can in fact scatter the mind in the same way that the chemical medications do.Melody
Melody or theme in a music can give us a clue to hang on, a subject or a thought to follow. Thus having athematic music or atonality in a music, which comes easily as the nature of the electronic music, can create a sphere of mindless situation.
So for a person who listens to music with the yearning to get thrown into his desirable thought or capturing the sort of sensation he longs for, such music can bring anxiety and restlessness.Adverse Effects of Electronic Music and Temperament
Electronic Music, because of its unusual vibrations and colours can be unconventional to some ears and depending on the composition of the music, listeners’ cultural backgrounds and their temperaments can have divers effect on audiences form healing to adverse effects.
