21st CENTURY CONCERNS

21st CENTURY CONCERNS
In ancient Greece, philosophers and law makers had very definite opinions about the role of music in the society. Integrity and responsibility were to meters that had to be met by composers and performers. The Greeks believed, as did Napoleon Bonaparte, that musicians had a significant influence over the people, particularly the young people of the society, and therefore must be above reproach in their personal moral integrity. There was one element of music that was considered counterproductive, if not detrimental. It was the principle of ostinato, a recurring, repetitious rhythmic, melodic or harmonic pattern that becomes pervasive in the music. The Greeks believed that such constant repetition, had the power to control the minds of the listeners, or at least to cause the part of the mind which holds judgement (we define it as the conscious mind) to yield to that portion which functions without judgement (unconscious mind). The Greeks firmly believed that messages conveyed in such a convention would have the tyrannical effect of “brain washing” the listener to accept messages, that under normal circumstances would be deemed unacceptable. Careful scrutiny with substantial penalties for abuse were used. Plato and Aristotle spoke often of the power of music for good and for destruction. 1. Plato and Aristotle: music has the power to "harmonize the body and soul." The use of ostinato, today carries two effects with it, one is the effect of lulling the listener into a dream-like, unconscious thought process, and the other is one of irritation in which the listener wishes to escape the effect. What would the Greeks have thought of the fact, that the most salient feature of popular music of our generation is ostinato. Could they have been right?