Is music just sounds? And what does it communicate? Andrew Frank

Andrew Frank, photo courtesy University of California, Davis

Professor
Department of Music
University of California, Davis

Music is more than “just sounds.” It is a system of sound images and patterns, often very complex, made up of elements which coalesce to make a coherent work of art.

Music communicates itself. Listeners’ emotional and intellectual responses to a particular piece may be highly variable, pointing up the subjective nature of all artistic communication.