I wasn't sure about wither or not to start a thread on this but I wanted to see what everyone thought about it.

Music Magic, or whatever the proper term for it is anyways, is when you sing and something happens. I have it in a story and I've seen it done once before in Her Majesty's Wizard.

But I've been wondering how to do it, like in Her Majesty's Wizard as long it has beat and measure you could just recite it and the words were what caused it happen (You still need to have the gift but... you get my drift right), or like in how I'm thinking about doing it now in Cassie's Song, where as long the tone matches what you want done and the words don't contradict it, you will what you want into being (Wither it be by singing-the easiest way- or with an instrument). Or perhaps in a third way that I haven't thought up yet.

And personally since I haven't seen a lot of this either, so I've been wondering if there's like something I don't about it that would cause it to be a no show in books? Like possibly corniness that I don't know about it?
(Though this whole thought just came to me... Spur of the moment sort of think and all.)

I haven’t actually heard of this before Blue Eyes… can you give me a little more background so I can try to answer your question? What causes the music magic, what do you use it for, and how does it affect a person’s situation? Where does this power come from?

Terry Brooks uses something similar called the "Wishsong" in his Shannara books. It basically goes along the lines of singing while visualizing the result without any real words. It's pretty impressive.

Huh, that is an interesting (and little used) concept...

I think Mercedes Lackey has some sort of series about bards, in which their magic is in their music as well. But I've never read it.

I feel out of the loop! Seer knows two series that use this form of magic! Okay Blue Eyes, I now feel out of my league. I'm not sure what I think out this subject anymore since I have nothing to base my thoughts on. I'll do some research.

*Feels bad for not being able to reply sooner >.<* It's pretty much just magic, the only difference is how it comes about (Like having to use a wand or hand motions or what not), so it's different for each author, so I can only answer for my story.

What causes it? The Conductor, it's just any other art form (like writing, dancing, swordsfighting, or anything else of the like) that can give glory to him. (Yes,he's my Jesus figure in book) And just like some are better at fighting then writing, some sing magic better then others

What for? Well, music is the magic of the soul in Symphony, so if your soul wants to fight, it can be defensive/offensive (Depending upon who follow though, if you follow the king you're going to be more defensive, since you most likely don't want to kill anyone, and if fall Para you'll lean the other way, since it's easy to kill them anyways). It can also be used to convey emotion if you're just singing to sing. If you're sing a sad song you can the crowd fall into depression (Unless you're a really happy person), or if you're singing a song of bliss everyone listening may feel giddy (Unless you're a really depressed person). It only last for the length of the song though, unless you like it and repeat it your head, I suppose, though I haven't about that bit a lot, but I doubt it...
It also doesn't work on living things, like you can't get a fifty foot dandelion by singing to it, unless you're a farmer with absolutely no time on your hands and want to sing for a at lest four hours without a break.
It only for the length of the song, unless it's a song of healing and in that case you're going to put of soul/passion into singing and it's going to stay put 'cause you're going to have effect the person and not just the body for it work right. I think. (I'm still trying to figure it all out for Symphony. >.<)

How does it effect a persons situation? >.< So many ways, I suppose, it mainly depends on the situation, I suppose I've answered that a bit in the previous bits... >.< But I could expand on it if you want, but just like magic normally would I suppose.

Where does it come from? (Should have answered this first I suppose >.<) Again, mainly depends on the writer. For Cassie's Song it ultimately it came The Conductor, since only those who have met him can do to it since (I think I said this before not sure >.<) this was originally only a form of worship, but when the fall happened it became more practical, and more limited(? I'm not sure about this next bit, since I'm still figuring out how it works in CS, I said that before, haven't I? >.<). Everyone who has firmly decided to follow the Conductor or not has a 'Song'.
A Song is angelic(or demonic if you no longer decide to follow) being that gives access to the Music (Magic.) and also gives advice. You can't hide them (Not for long anyways, 'cause say you're hiding for your life, you don't want any possibly glowing they might have(since I haven't decided on wither or not they do that) to give you way), they're there to show whom you have pledge your allegiance to. They also protect/fight you depending upon who follow as well.
You're music only does anything if you have one of these.

Again I'm still working on all the detail for my magic music stuff, so please point out if I have any obvious errors in my thinking. >.< Though I might be lucky and not have any!! ^.^ (But I doubt that v.v*Sigh* )



I'm going to have to look these up since the only series I know of it Wizards in Rhyme by Christopher Stasheff (I found out the series tittle). And I need help figuring out how to go about portraying it as well. *headdesk*

I'd look into the books Seer mentioned and try to get an idea of how the other writers portray the singing magic. I think this idea fit well into your story though. Good idea.

*Is doing that right now* Thanks! ^_^ (Always good to know it isn't a lost cause. ^.^)

Before you check them out be warned that Terry Brooks' works are pretty dark (to the point that I can't honestly recommend them).

Yikes! Okay, scratch Terry off my to do list.

Any magic related to singing or music ought to be pretty loose in terms of rules. Music is really limitless (the only requirement being that you have to know the rules to make breaking them sound good), and it's difficult to pin it down and define. In many ways, music is magic.

So, I would say that, whatever you do with it, don't pin it down and make it technical. Just let it work the way music works: however a good composer or performer wants it to.

Oh cool cool cool. Awesome cool. Remember, Aslan sang Narnia into existence. Illuvatar sang the creation. (that's the only part of the Simallarion I've managed to read... twice! I've got through the creation twice, but no father in the whole book! So I know about the song. It's cool.)

Um, um, um.... in the Harp of Brandeshwhiere every location has a melody, like an address, and if you play that specific melody on your harp you'll be instantly transported to that location. I think that the harpers could also create things with their music. I do know there's a big battle where one musician harps spring back to the island...

Um, um... I want to say "Fairest" but there wasn't any magic in that, they just sang. It was cool, but not magic. Um, um, I know there's another one...

Well if there isn't there should be! Music is magic in and of itself. It is powerful beyond words, and giving it physical power is just one tiny step out of reality and into the fantasy realm. It's a seriously cool concept. Go for it!

The only other thing I can think of is fairy music, which can make you forget, or cause you to go mad. I used this in Legend of Darmoor, but it's drawn from typical Irish and Scottish folklore. If any other examples come to me I'll let you know.

*slaps forehead* I totally forgot about Aslan singing! Wow, now I feel really dumb.

There is one series I can think that has singing magic it is The Books of Pellinor: The Naming, The Riddle, The Crow, and The Singing by Alison Croggon. They were pretty good, except for the fact it was kinda mystical with no God-portrayal.