From the rich tapestry of music in American culture, where genres like jazz and rock have left an indelible mark, to the diverse rhythms of cultural music around the world, the role of music goes beyond entertainment—it’s a vital thread that weaves societies together. Whether through the political power of protest songs or the communal joy of traditional celebrations, the impact of music on society continues to shape how we understand and connect with one another. One of the most significant aspects of the impact of music on society is its ability to foster social cohesion. Throughout history, music has been a communal activity—people gathered to sing, dance, and play instruments together, creating bonds within societies. In modern times, music continues to play this role, bringing people together at concerts, festivals, and other public gatherings. In these spaces, music becomes a shared experience, allowing individuals to feel connected to something larger than themselves.
Students there held a Jazz Festival, featuring six bands from five different schools culminating in musician workshops. But one thing all Tri-M members have in common is a deep love of music and how it can help others. From officers making meeting agendas to members realizing how much time it really takes to plan an event, students learn lifelong skills that can transfer to their college or work experience. Jessica Fiedorowicz, NAfME member and advisor, explains how using service and leadership can spotlight your music program. Hannah Cole, advisor and Co-Chair of the Music Honor Society Advisory Council, shares how Tri-M service projects can lessen your workload. “I joined because music is one of the most important things in my life, and I wanted to change the fact that local elementary schools were not providing music classes and curriculums for the students.”— Mia I.
The society grew out of a “Peace Jubilee” organized in Boston by English-born composer and organist George K. Jackson in February 1815 to celebrate Washington’s birthday and the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, which formally ended the War of 1812. This celebration brought together the greatest number of musicians ever assembled in the city to perform works by George Frideric Handel and various other composers. In the month after this triumphant concert, a group of local musicians and patrons—Gottlieb Graupner, Augustus Peabody, John Dodd, George Cushing, and Matthew Parker—decided to form a musical society to offer similar events periodically. They officially adopted a constitution for the Handel and Haydn Society on 26 April 1815. Eastern Europe also has a rich tradition of folk music, with the Roma people, in particular, contributing to the musical landscape with their lively, emotive performances. Instruments like the violin, accordion, and cimbalom are often used in Roma music, which has influenced many classical and popular music genres throughout Europe.
Participants then answered six questions, rating each clip on a six-point scale according to whether they believed the song was used for dancing, soothing a baby, healing illness, or expressing love. Two additional uses — mourning the dead and telling a story — were included as controls. Affectionately known as the “R&R” this society has the unique distinction of being the only Musical Society in continuous existence, producing two, maybe three shows a year in the principal Theatres of Dublin without interruption since 1913. In 2020, NAMT started weekly town halls to allow members to connect and share strategies for working through the unprecedented crisis in our industry. These have continued to be a valuable resource even as we move toward brighter times.
Several foreign-born composers, such as Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Jacques Offenbach, Niccolò Paganini, and Igor Stravinsky, established themselves or made significant contributions both with their works and their influence in Paris. The first book printed in France, Epistolae (“Letters”), by Gasparinus de Bergamo (Gasparino da Barzizza), was published in Paris in 1470 by the press established by Johann Heynlin. Since then, Paris has been the centre of the French publishing industry, the home of some of the world’s best-known writers and poets, and the setting for many classic works of French literature. The Musée de l’Orangerie, near both the Louvre and the Orsay, also exhibits Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, including most of Claude Monet’s large Water Lilies murals. The Guimet Museum, or Musée national des arts asiatiques, has one of the largest collections of Asian art in Europe.
It also hosts comedy acts and stage productions, creating a really intimate atmosphere where the audience and performer are immersed in the evening’s entertainment together. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has had its headquarters in Paris since November 1958. Paris is also the home of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).323 Paris hosts the headquarters of the European Space Agency, the International Energy Agency, European Securities and Markets Authority and the European Banking Authority. The most prestigious sculptors who made their reputation in Paris in the modern era are Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (Statue of Liberty), Auguste Rodin, Camille Claudel, Antoine Bourdelle, Paul Landowski (statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro) and Aristide Maillol. Paris was the centre of an explosion of philosophic and scientific activity, known as the Age of Enlightenment. Diderot and D’Alembert published their Encyclopédie in 1751, before the Montgolfier Brothers launched the first manned flight in a hot air balloon on 21 November 1783.
With the rise of nationalism in the middle of the 19th century, societies came into existence that promoted the printing and performance of national music. The study of folk music was allied to this, and such institutions as the International Folk Music Council came into being. The promotion of new music was fostered by such organizations as the International Society for Contemporary Music, which was formed in 1922. Musicological research was published by organizations such as the Royal Musical Association (England, 1874) and the American Musicological Society (1934). Groups such as the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) protect the copyrights of authors and composers.
Shows like “American Bandstand” introduced rock ‘n’ roll to young audiences across the nation, while programs like “The Ed Sullivan Show” helped launch the careers of iconic artists like The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Simultaneously, Native American music continued to thrive, maintaining its distinct character with drums, flutes, and vocal performances being integral to tribal ceremonies and storytelling. Although marginalized by colonial expansion, Native American music still plays a vital role in the country’s cultural heritage, contributing to the overall diversity of American music. After the Great October Socialist Revolution, public music organizations were organized. These include the Modern Music Association (1923-early 1930’s, Leningrad and Moscow), the Russian Association of Proletarian Musicians (1923–32), the Association of Revolutionary Composers and Musical Workers (1925–32), and the N. From 1931 to 1935 the International Music Bureau, an association of workers’ and revolutionary music organizations of Austria, Germany, the USA, the USSR, France, and Japan, was located in Moscow.
The mid-20th century saw the emergence of rock ‘n’ roll, a genre that would forever change the landscape of music in American culture. Taking inspiration from the blues and jazz, rock ‘n’ roll exploded onto the scene with artists like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard, whose energetic performances and catchy tunes captivated teenagers across the country. It represented rebellion, freedom, and a break from the conservative norms of the time. Music holds an undeniable power that transcends mere entertainment, deeply influencing the fabric of society in ways both subtle and profound. From shaping cultural norms to inspiring societal change, the impact of music on society has been a constant force throughout human history. Its influence extends across emotions, behavior, and thought processes, affecting individuals and communities alike. Whether it is through the rhythms that arklow move us, the lyrics that resonate, or the melodies that evoke memories, music remains one of the most powerful cultural forces.
They included concert societies such as the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde (“Society of Friends of Music”), founded 1812 in Vienna; the Parisian Société Philharmonique, founded by the composer Hector Berlioz in 1850; and the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, founded in 1828. Amateur choir societies sprang up in England during the century; the most important were the Royal Choral Society (1871) and the Bach Choir (1875). Tri-M students from Monelison Middle School in Virginia, for example, participated in Wreaths Across America, helping lay over 500 holiday wreaths on the graves of U.S. veterans. Tri-M students at Hampton Bays Middle School in New York participated in a Day of Service packing food donations in partnership with a local charity. New Jersey’s Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School’s Tri-M, on the other hand, took a different approach.