As human beings we experience our environment through our senses. What we experience can influence what we think and how we feel. For instance you might walk out on a hot pavement in bare feet and think ouch (I’m an idiot), ouch (I’m an idiot), ouch (I’m an idiot), as you hop back over to the cool grass. Or upon returning from a long hike up to the top of a peak you might put your feet in a cool stream, relive in your mind the nicer parts of the hike and think, that wasn’t so bad. My first point is what we sense can influence what we think and how we feel.

As a brief aside, we have some ability to control what we experience. We can attend a ball game where we know we can experience sun a hotdog and beer. We may experience an exciting play and either defeat of victory. My second point is we have some ability to choose what we experience.

Sound is one thing we can sense and can influence our thinking and feeling. A waterfall may be soothing. The sound of a jackhammer may be annoying. If you are trying to fall asleep a waterfall may be frustrating. If you are happy to see your sidewalk finally being repaired a jackhammer may be welcome. Point three is sound is one of the senses that can influence how we think or feel but the influence is not the same for everyone or even for one person at different times.

If we assume we are talking about man made music then we are talking about one person (or a group) attempting to influence, or at least creating the potential to influence, the thoughts or emotions of another. This is communication.

So putting these points together, what I call music is a form of communication which can influence what people think or feel through combinations of auditory signals that appeal to other elements of us beyond reason.

Within the existential framework music is often used to express angst; perhaps sharing angst lessens the sting and brings some back from the brink. Music often uses love as a theme; the concept of love may add meaning to life or help one cope with despair. We can self-medicate with music including our own music. There are likely other common themes between music and existentialism but my philosophy is very rusty.

Best I could do on short notice, now I must go experience dinner with the Other.