What does music have to do with art?

art can take many forms and be consumed through different senses. So it does not always have to be optical stimuli, but art also has an acoustic form, for example.

The music is an excellent example of this, because its story is inseparable to that of art. Since humanity can speak, it has probably started singing and the oldest instruments are tens of thousands of years old.

No wonder, because music and art can also cause emotions and are a way for the artists to express themselves.

Many great composers have therefore been inspired by the art of their time. Conversely, art is often accompanied musically to intensify its effect. So it is a perfect symbiosis that is worth a closer look.

Music as a separate art form

Music is not just a companion and tool of art. Instead, she represents an art form herself; One of the oldest and most estimated art forms in order to be precise. Music transports strong emotions and plays an important role in the life of many people. It is an expression of thoughts and feelings, which applies regardless of whether it is designed with words or is just a melody.

Either way, music is a universal language with a strong effect . This effect is both emotional and physical in nature, i.e. music works directly on the body due to the sound waves and can therefore also be perceived by people with limited hearing.

Therefore, it now applies to your own form of therapy , so -called music therapy , in order to improve physical and mental well -being.

Everyone knows this incredible power of music from their own experience. For example, as soon as a certain song is played, he wakes up very certain memories. Or certain melodies arouse emotions from joy to motivation to grief.

But there is another feature of art that applies to music and thus brings the status as a separate art form: it reflects the culture of its surroundings and time. In order to prove this, the view does not have to lead so far back into the past.

Elvis Presley was an icon of the 1960s and 70s, whose hits met the zeitgeist, for example "Viva Las Vegas" - one of the classics that are still often played in the casino. Just a decade later, artists such as Madonna the music world. In the place of the weightless "good mood music", feminist and scandalous views at the time, paired with synthetic sounds. These are just two of many examples of how music can portray the respective zeitgeist and even toast social changes.

How is music used in art?

It is precisely this power of music that has led to it is also often used in art to reach people on an emotional level. Although they act on different levels, optically and acoustically, they represent a perfect addition - or precisely because of it. Music can also underline the mood of the artwork and be played, for example, in the exhibition space.

Sometimes it is only individual sounds that have a certain effect on the body and mind. Keyword: music or sound therapy. But there is also the possibility to integrate music directly into a visual work of art. Some artists also use the music as inspiration and write certain colors, shapes and structures to each element.

literally be guided by music when creating their - mostly abstract A new trend is also interactive works of art, whereby the installations are supplemented by Klangelemen and can be controlled or manipulated by visitors.

So there are numerous ways to combine music and art. Especially in modern times there is no shortage of examples of how the senses are addressed at different levels, for example in the form of audio or video materials that are either presented as a separate art form

This opens up completely new opportunities for the artists to give their work more expressiveness and make their art even more lively and more appealing. In addition, another art form must not be forgotten, which is often presented in combination with music: the poetry .

She also likes to be musically or designed directly as a lyrics. Many pieces of music therefore combine several art forms by nature and are therefore so effective on an emotional level.

Examples of visual art in music

How the poetry is used in music is self -explanatory. However, the question of how other art forms can be connected to music is more exciting. From this perspective, too, there have been some symbioses in the past. On the one hand, almost every song has an associated video these days. Many of them have a high level of artistic claim; Some almost like a short film that could be referred to as a work of art himself.

These music videos reflect the zeitgeist, which can not only be recognized by the technological development, but also in the change of content. While the first music videos primarily portrayed the artists and resembled a live appearance , these are now complex action lines with artistic standards-exceptions confirm the rule.

But works of art such as paintings or photographs are always used in music, for example as an album cover . David Bowie and Brian Duffy were famous for corresponding cooperation in 1973, Paul McCartney and Bob Gruen in 1982 or Pink Floyd and Gerald Scarfe in 1983.

They all designed an album cover together that visually represent the music of the respective album and should therefore directly transport the correct emotion. Nowadays, since music takes place digitally and thus the cover enjoys less attention, such cooperations are becoming increasingly important. The symbiosis of art and music remains, which is due to its numerous advantages.

The advantages of the combination of art and music

The different art forms allow several senses to address at the same time and thereby create a even more intensive experience. They also offer artists several means of expression, which can undermine the disadvantages of individual art forms and leads to a holistic approach to art.

This already becomes clear in numerous exhibitions where visitors no longer only experience art visually, for example as a painting. However, it has become more diverse from light, to sound to moving image installations- and an end to this diversification is not in sight.

So when art reflects the modern zeitgeist, the connection of different art forms is hardly dispensable and music plays an important role in creating an immersive experience. The so-called “audio visuals” represent an important trend of this time . Whether it will remain in the long term or is only a snapshot typical of art will still be shown.

Multimedia art cannot do without music

It is therefore also digitization that plays an important role in art these days and opens up completely new opportunities to combine classical art with music and other elements. , multimedia is an important keyword, which is also becoming increasingly common in modern art.

In addition to a purely optical presentation, art takes place, for example, in motion or addresses different senses. The moving image and musical elements are therefore only two of many other ways of what modern art can look like. Interactive elements or art for touching also included in order to integrate even more senses and thus further intensify the experience.

The combination of different art forms is therefore a complex undertaking, but at the same time brings completely new variants on how art can look, listen to or feel. For the artists, this means more opportunities to express themselves. For visitors, multimedia brings more excitement to the exhibitions and ensures that more people are interested in art in general and especially in modern art forms.

In the end, everyone benefits from the symbiosis between art, music and other artistic elements. This is also why it is a connection that will probably always play an important role in art.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

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