What is music? - Women, the Recited Qur'an, and Islamic Music in Indonesia

What is music?

By: Bridget Dresser

 

   Sound has always been considered one of the higher senses, required for fully interacting with our surroundings. Our sense of hearing tells us if something is moving in our environment, it helps communication between members of our species, and it helps us identify threats. Much like our other senses, it also works to deepen the connection we have to the world around us and enriches our lived experiences.

Harmony – Two Nymphs Singing, Another Playing a Lyre MET

    Music is arguably as old as sound if you debate what constitutes music. Whether or not the sound of an instrument and vocal cords is all music can be, or if music has always been the whistling of the wind, the mating calls of birds, the laugh of children playing, or the sound of crying. I argue that the definition of what is truly “music” or not music is entirely up to personal interpretation and taste. The Oxford Dictionary definition of music is: “sounds that are arranged in a way that is pleasant or exciting to listen to.” This definition is entirely subjective, which leaves a lot of wiggle room for subgenres, as we are now intimately familiar with it, thanks to Spotify wrapped telling us exactly what our niche is.  

    We never stop listening to what’s around us, our brain has a special process that filters out what we focus on and what is considered background noise. There are so many sounds that surround us every day, even when you’re not in nature. The sound of traffic, construction, and voices are also a kind of music, just telling the story of things humans have created rather than the things we’ve grown alongside. Life has elevator music if you let yourself listen. 

Shahzada Husain Burhanuddin reciting from the holy Quran

    In Women, The Recited Qur’an, and Islamic Music in Indonesia, Anne Rasmussen discusses the music of Islam, specifically how some Islamic practices have a musicality to them but are decidedly not the Westernized definition of music.  

“Recitation is not music, as any number of sources will attest. Furthermore, the term music, as understood in the English language, does not begin to represent the real differences and conceptual nuances between song, instrumental music, and musical function that operate in languages other than English...” (Rasmussen)

    According to Rasmussen, recitation of the Qur’an while having a melodic and flowing nature, is distinctly different from the Western definition of music. She frames Qur’an recitation similarly to how people in more western society see slam poetry. There is a rhythm or a beat, something that makes the speech flow with specific intonation while not specifically making the motions of singing or holding a pitch for any extended amount of time. This does not mean that Islam is not a musical religion, as with almost every religious practice. Rasmussen does make a point to note musical inclusion in other elements of the practice,

“...I found music to be a part of almost all of the rituals, programs, competitions, and festivals to which I was invited.” (Rasmussen)

    While I make the argument that every sound combination could be considered music, and music is everywhere, there are sounds, and performances like Qur'an recitation that are made with intention. Many times, that intention behind a sound isn’t always to be melodic, or even to be pleasant to listen to. Sometimes it’s just a sound that exists independently of the other sounds in its environment, but when paired with something else it can be given a new meaning. The intent of the sound will always be up to the maker of that sound, but the meaning and the effect that it has are up to interpretation and personal experience as soon as that sound is made.