Since the dawn of human history, we have known that music is not just a form of entertainment. Music, as a unifying, healing, and transformative force, has witnessed and shaped our most important moments.

Social rituals are the actions that form a culture's identity, transmit its values, and bring individuals together. Weddings, funerals, harvest festivals, religious ceremonies... At the heart of all these lie rhythm and melody.

So, why is music so indispensable for these rituals? The answer lies in the direct and universal impact of music on emotions. Music speaks where words are inadequate.

Think of a wedding ceremony. The music playing makes everyone feel the solemnity, joy, or romance of the moment without spelling it out in words. Although different cultures use different melodies, the purpose is the same: to carry and share the emotional weight of that moment.

Rituals often mark a moment of 'transition'. Birth (transition to life), coming of age (transition to adulthood), marriage (transition to a new family), or funeral (transition to another realm). Music is both the guide and the facilitator of these transitions.

The role of music is especially critical in funeral ceremonies. Dirges, somber hymns, or funeral marches allow the bereaved to unite in common grief, express their sorrow, and experience a kind of catharsis (emotional cleansing).

The rhythmic structure of music, especially in group rituals, has the power to 'synchronize' individuals. People who keep time to the same drumbeat feel themselves part of a larger whole.

This synchronization is not just physical. Brain scans show that the brainwaves of people making or listening to music together also synchronize. This strengthens empathy and social bonding.

Consider ancient tribal ceremonies. The rhythmic drumming of the shaman was used to induce a trance-like state in the participants. The repetitive nature of the rhythm alters the normal flow of consciousness and opens the door to a different level of awareness.

This is not unique to primitive tribes. In today's modern electronic music festivals,
thousands of people dancing to the same beat for hours is a modern reflection of this ancient ritual. The goal is the same: to shed individual identity and join in a collective euphoria.

In religious rituals, music is a means of connecting with the divine. The sound of organs in churches, the call to prayer (adhan) from mosques, or the mantras in Buddhist monasteries... They all aim to create a spiritual focus, moving away from the worldly.

Another important function of music in these ceremonies is 'memory'. In times before writing was invented, a culture's history, myths, and laws were passed down from generation to generation through songs and epics.

Melodic and rhythmic structures make it easier to memorize long texts. While it is difficult to memorize information as plain text, it becomes memorable when you turn it into a song. Music is like a verbal archive of culture.

Even wars and military ceremonies have used music. Marches played by military bands were designed to give soldiers courage, boost their morale, and create a sense of unity by synchronizing their steps.

In seasonal celebrations like harvest festivals, music is an expression of gratitude and joy for the cycle of nature. The dances performed and songs sung celebrate the fertility of the land.

Music has also become ritualized as a tool of protest and resistance. In social change movements, anthems and protest songs inspire people gathered for a common cause and hold them together.

Today, radios are also part of this ritual. The 'morning show' listened to on the way to work, the 'weekend vibe' that starts on Friday evening, or the calm melodies playing at midnight... These are the small, daily rituals of modern life.

The radio is a powerful ritualistic tool that can unite millions of different people on the same song at the same time. At that moment, everyone listening to that song becomes part of an invisible community.

Even as technology changes (from vinyl to streaming), this fundamental function of music has never changed. As humans, we need sound and rhythm to 'mark' the important moments in our lives and to share those moments with others.

In conclusion, music is not just something we hear; it is an action we 'do' together. It is the oldest and most powerful social glue that takes us from being individuals and makes us part of a community.