Lisa Pasch "Is music really that special?"

In more than one reading in the Nature of Art, there have been theories of art and music distinguished above the other arts as being different or special in some way. For example, in Schopenhauer’s theory of art as revelation, he says that art can reveal metaphysical truth and that all art, with the exception of music, presents Ideas rather than things. His theory states that music brings us into direct contact with the will itself. To Schopenhauer believes that music is the highest form of art presenting true reality in its form. I’m not a huge believer in Schopenhauer’s ideas in general, and even though I am a musician I can’t say that I think that music is above all other art forms. Music, like any other genre, misses certain populations. Not all music can move someone, just as not all poems ignite our curiosities. I feel there can still be issues in communication through music as any other form. If anything, the art of dance can show us more clearly the story or emotions being represented because human movement is something we experience every day through action and sight. When someone dances, they can also include facial expressions to explain even further. I think with music, there is a certain amount of translation that still needs to be done with a lot of it. If we were not programmed since birth to hear minor chords when someone is sad, would we still think it sounds “sad” or “depressing”? If we had been exposed to a wider variety of what we call dissonant tones (tritones, augmented intervals, diminished intervals, etc.) would we still feel uncomfortable when we hear them? I don’t think they would have the same effect at all. The Western music culture has imbedded meanings in the music we hear in inflict emotion or to illustrate ideas, which takes away the “realness” of it all. If anything were to be considered the highest, my vote would be for dance - transcending cultures and time in its meaning and purpose.