It's called "the international language," music is, and it's because it can communicate the full range of human emotion without using a single word.
People instinctively know what message is conveyed by various combinations of tones, timbres, sounds and vibrations, arranged in a certain order at a certain tempo.
It's as if we are born with ears pre-programmed to understand music, some researchers claim.
  The last 100 years have seen a huge increase in the amount of music composed, performed, recorded, broadcast and heard, and it is possible for fans of even the most obscure Patagonian folk music to locate songs and artists-on the Internet, of course.
More than any other art form except film (which includes video and TV), the way that music is marketed has changed dramatically with the advent of both digital music (CDs) and digital delivery systems (Internet and computers).
  But not only is a whole world of music now available for listening and enjoyment, a whole world of music lovers is also available for new composers and performers to reach.
A variety of free and low-cost Web services exist to help musicians get their music heard, and once heard, sold, either by direct download or CD purchase.
There are even Internet music channels, so artists do not have to battle huge, powerful media conglomerates for a sliver of the disappearing bandwidth on the radio dial.
The bandwidth of the future Internet, so to speak, is limitless.
  Everyone fouls up the quote about music being "soothing," so here it is once more: Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.
People usually say "beast" instead of "breast," but the point is that it is humans, with caring hearts beating in their breasts, that have the capacity to be soothed by music.
Animals-beasts-do not have this capability.
It is one of the few things that clearly separate us from the rest of the animal kingdom.
  Music truly is a wonderful, wonderful gift.
It is to be treasured by participants and spectators alike.