Striking chords

The world over we use music to express our emotions and ideas. It’s as primitive as it’s complex. Whether it’s the simple rhythms we tap out on our desks or a full orchestra playing Wagner, we’re never far away from a melody or two.

But why did music happen and why has it persevered?

There are countless theories. Was it for communal and personal entertainment? Or for communicating over large areas? Or was it to do with rituals and religion?

Arguably, all of the above and more. What it has always done, and always will do, is bring people together. Much like when we sit down to break bread, music acts as the drumbeat to human bonding.

Let’s take a look at 6 European YouTube Creators that echo this heritage while making something new.

First, a bit of Bagpipe with the Bagpipe Master, demonstrating that nothing is too niche for YouTube:

Someone, somewhere will always want to hear what’s being played, especially with the advent of YouTube and other sharing social networks.

This is true, regardless of age. Online communities are helping preserve and reignite our interest in all kinds of diverse and historic instruments. From the Great Highland bagpipe to Nordic flutes, these instruments are finding relevancy through reinterpretations of modern masterpieces.

As Danish artist Myrkur Oksemorder demonstrates:

Regional and traditional efforts may hold sway with those who have grown up hearing them, but evolution is necessary for a contemporary audience. It can act as a soft and fun introduction to instruments from a bygone era.

For example an organ cover of MJ by a French YouTube Creator:

But are covers of today’s tracks really the only saving grace for niche music?

No. The possibilities are endless. We’re viewing compositions and instruments like never before, challenging their very definitions.

The sceptics may point to a lack of rules and traditions, but bottle blowing has resonated with a sizeable demographic. It’s also something almost everyone can try: the financial obstacles associated with amps, speakers and loop pedals aren’t a barrier to entry.

As the Bottle Boys show:

And, like all great art forms, if there isn’t something that strikes a chord with you, create your own mode of expression. After all, necessity is the mother of invention. Marble pianos included.

Just watch YouTube Creator Wintergatan play his piece:

Tech’s ability to connect us to anyone from across the globe in an instant has redefined how we collaborate. In need of bass guitarist for your college band? There’s no need to put an ad in the back pages of the local paper anymore. You can practice with someone, from anywhere, online.

Check out Andrei Cebu’s international garage band, hailing from Romania, Germany and more:

This hasn’t changed the journey from amateur ensemble to stadium sellout. It’s merely made it an easier, more fluid progression. It’s also democratised finding a fanbase, similar to the emergence of MySpace bands who found prominence without record labels.

For those of us who do not have a band and are not so much into making music, but rather listening to it, another type of Creators are here for us.
Jaime Altozano is passionate about music in all its forms, from the great masters to the Game of Thrones opening music to the Pokemon theme. His technical yet enthusiastic analysis unveil hidden gems you would have never suspected. Learning about music has never been so entertaining.

Music was and still is one of our most common forms of self expression. It fills us with joy, sadness and everything in between, and brings us together through experience.
Somehow, YouTube Creators are exploring new ways for music to touch us as individuals, and by doing so, they might be inventing tomorrow’s musical heritage.