piMusic, Passion, and Cognitive Functioni examines contemporary cognitive theories of music, why they cannot explain music's power over us, and the origin and evolution of music. The book presents experimental confirmations of the theory in psychological and neuroimaging research, discussing the parallel evolution of consciousness, musical styles, and cultures since Homer and King David. p pIn addition, it explains that 'in much wisdom is much grief' due to cognitive dissonances created by language that splits the inner world. Music enables us to survive in this sea of grief, overcomes discomforts and stresses of acquiring new knowledge, and unifies the soul, hence the power of music. p pulliProvides a foundation of music theoryliliDemonstrates how emotions motivate interaction between cognition and languageliliCovers differentiation and synthesis in consciousnessliliCompares the parallel evolution of music and culturesliliExamines the idea of music overcoming cognitive dissonancesliul