El dolor humano y la música

Abstract

Pure rationality is not enough to understand the world, or face the pain and suffering that form part of existence. Refuge in hedonism and in the enjoyment of the present hinders integral solutions to pain and its suffering, despite great advances in biomedicine. Hence, approaching the problem of pain from a broad perspective becomes essential. The importance of the search for meaning and coherence must be taken into account, and the role that art, and particularly music, play in this search must be considered. With this aim, the relations between music, hurnan experience and emotions is dealt with; then the focus centers on the manifestations of pain and suffering in composers, in performing artists and in the link of music with pain provoked by war conflicts. Lastly, the statement is made that creativity and the different forms of living music help satisfy the ancient need to give sense to life, face pain and transform it into an experience of growth.