Marija Andjic
Which music do you listen to?
Like some kind of magic, it passes through us without question and
our approval, tickles us inside and leaves a lasting mark in our souls.
So subtle and pleasant that we indulge her unreservedly. Even if we
wanted to, we would have no way of resisting her.
We perceive music not only through the sense of hearing, but
with the whole body. It goes beyond our control and awareness.
Music is made of vibrations that resonate with the vibration of our
cells. When we listen to music it adjusts the vibration of our body
to its frequency and the heart beats at the Rhythm of the music.
Depending on the combination of tones, their duration, frequency,
our body produces different hormones that cause different moods
and emotions. We have all heard of dopamine, serotonin and endor-
phins, whose secretion raises happiness levels. It is known that the
tones of the frequency 432 Hz and 528 Hz cause the secretion of these
hormones and have a beneficial effect on our mood.
Whether or not our body will increase the level of serotonin and
dopamine or some other substance depends not only on the music
itself. It also depends on our experience, our beliefs, our level of con-
sciousness, as well as refinement of our hearing, what we will hear
from the same music and what emotions it will trigger in us. One
tune that sounds cheerful to most people, can cause by other melan-
choly and sadness because in their memory it is associated with some
sad event. On the other hand, a composition written in moll, which
sounds sad, could cause someone to feel hope and joy. “The picture
is in the eye of the beholder”, so our perception of music depends a
lot on ourselves.
It is interesting, if we take a little look at what we listen to and
why, and even wonder how it affects us, to what feelings and actions
it brings us, we would learn a lot about ourselves. By getting to know
oneself, one gets clarity and awareness of who they are, what they
want, what their opportunities and potentials are, how to develop
and direct themselves towards the goals they want to achieve, as well
as where they are in relation to the people around them. Self-aware-
ness helps us to better understand and accept others, what enhances
our relationships with them.
It is therefore important to hear what we are listening to.
However, the music is not only made of tones. Music can be the
rustle of leaves and the breeze of wind in the fall days. The music is
also Goulash’s spinning that starts even before he leaps into my lap to
pet him. The music is also the croaking of a rooster, which wakes me
up at 5am just when I finally get a chance to take a rest in my village
and sleep longer… The music is even a screaming flock of crews simi-
lar to the one that flew over the small house next to the schoolyard in
Zmaj Jovina Street, home of the person I love immensely …
Music is the words we utter or listen to. The sets of letters and
words that we refer to each other, as well as to ourselves, that have
their own frequencies and incredible impact on our being.
How aware of this music are we? What do we say and what do we
choose to hear?
Do we listen to commercials that convince us that we need that
product? Do we listen to the mass media? Programs that serve us
“truths” in their way. Contents that look like entertainment, and that
are actually designed to distract from serious issues? Do we listen
to trash music that promotes cheap morals, expensive cars, pornog-
raphy and crime? Do we listen to a neighbor’s gossip and retelling of
events? Do we listen to friends who are not successful in their jobs
but advise us what to do with ours? Do we listen to parents who, for
fear and worry, advise us to take a path of less resistance and a path
without risk?
What kind of music do we nourish our ears with? With what do
we feed our souls?
Do we allow mass media and society to create our opinions or do
we question their words? Do we think about it? Do we check? Do we
ask ourselves, “Whose opinion is this?” … What do we think that
we need and what do we really need? Is it right what is being done in
our family for generations, what our society is doing, what everyone
around us is doing? Are we able to get out of those frameworks and
make a judgment on what is right, or do we by default take on the be-
haviors of our loved ones? Are we meeting somebody’s expectations
or are we doing what we love? Are we buying something because we
really like it or because it is modern? What do we incorporate in our-
selves? How do we shape ourselves and our lives? Or maybe we allow
others to shape them instead …?
Choose your music! Turn off the TVs! Don’t listen to brainwash-
ing programs! Choose the quality content on the Internet from
which you will learn something new and upgrade yourself. A quality
movie. Read the classics. Read a few lines of poetry. Learn at least the
basic words of a new language. Master the new skill … Don’t go out
for coffee with a gossip girl! Don’t be in the company of a colleague
who talks about the same nonsense every day! Rather be by yourself
and choose music that will enhance your mood, brighten that coffee
break. Choose the company of successful people from whom you
will learn how to be successful. Choose a company of people from
whom you will learn about successful relationships. Choose inter-
esting people with vision and ideas, they will enrich your life! Make
the most of your time! Don’t just let it pass. It will go too fast anyway.
Pay attention to what you say and what you listen to! What you
listen to is what you become.
Choose your music wisely!
Irina Pavlović
Rhythm as the essence of jazz culture
“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.” 1)
Maya Angelou
Somehow, intuitively, people consider rhythm to be the source of life.
“The rhythm of the drums that echo through the centuries”, playing
a very important spiritual role, especially for the many African cul-
tures and civilizations. “They were ever present at birth, initiation,
marriage, death, etc., as well as appearing at times of recreation…”
“Africa is the king of rhythms” 2) and “…the continent of drums
and percussion. African peoples reached the pinnacle of achievement
in that sphere.” 3) In jazz music and culture, rhythm is truly the driv-
ing force, and one of the most essential aspects that arise from the
African cultural heritage.
Rhythm is a feeling, and we cannot notate a feeling. Students of
this music must absorb it through listening, and this is the only way
towards true understanding, because only through listening we can
absorb the rhythm, feeling, spirit, emotion, expression, all aspects
that actually define music as an art form.
“Whenever African people have settled, they have created a new
music which is based on African rhythms. There is a great West Afri-
can influence in Brazil, also very much in Cuba and in Puerto Rico.
Gospel music, spirituals – they’re all African.” 4) Exploring and learn-
ing the history of African-American people, their roots and influen-
ces, is of great importance for the preservation of their music trad-
itions that have not just survived slavery but became a real cultural
phenomenon.
Along with the development of jazz, rhythm was developing
rapidly, becoming more complex. After the swing era, which was
the era of dance music, rhythm became complicated for the listeners
and difficult to understanding. “Some jazz music is for dancing and
some is strictly for listening.” 5) Early jazz music has always been relat-
ed to dance. Dance is not just aesthetic, but also an important social
element of African-American culture. Dance and music are deeply
intertwined, and that connection between rhythm and dance is very
strong, yet what inspires people to dance is actually the rhythm.
“They’re not particular whether you’re playing a flat 5th or a ruptured
129 th as long as they can dance.” 6) In other words, it is not import-
ant which tone or melody you play, the rhythmic aspect is essential.
The spectrum of rhythms in jazz began to develop rapidly in the 40s,
under the influence of various Latin rhythms. For instance, rhythm
and dance are highly developed in Latin America, hence the Carib-
bean and Latin influences are very important elements of jazz cul-
ture. “Rhythmically speaking”, there is a great connection between jazz
and the enormous field we call Latin music: “…It is very important to
know about the history. People need to know where the rhythms came
from, our heritage. They need to know that the slaves were brought
from Africa, that the slaves were not just brought to New Orleans but
to the Caribbean and Brazil and to Peru, and that’s why all the connec-
tions exist, rhythmically speaking.” 7)
The sense of rhythm (polyrhythmic, syncopation), creativity, and
improvisation are definitely highly developed in the music of Afri-
can-Americans, whose contribution is invaluable. We should not
forget that beside rhythm, the expression and social aspects also play
key roles in every Afro-American music as well “…Music and dance
had key roles in ‘uncontaminated’ African society…” 8) . No matter if
we talk about jazz, blues, gospel or Latin music, this cultural treasure
that arise from the African cultural heritage, define and make this
music culture truly authentic and “soulful”, and can easily become
someone’s fascination.
One really old saying from the great philosopher, Plato, explains
a lot on the matter: “Music and rhythm find their way into the secret
places of the soul.” 9)
_________________________
1) Maya Angelou, www.goodreads.com
2) -Sonny Rollins
3) Walter Rodney, “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa”, 1973, p.53
4) Weston, Randy, “Notes and Tones”, Taylor, Arthur ,1993
5) Horace Silver, “The Art of Small Jazz Combo Playing”, p. 10, 1995
6) Dizzy Gillespie, http://www.azquotes.com/quote/527960
7) Ignacio Berroa, https://tedpanken.wordpress.com/tag/ignacio-berroa/
8) Walter Rodney, “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa”, 1973, p.53
9) Plato, http://www.azquotes.com/