Emotion Language

I was busy this afternoon selecting music possibilities for my planned feature. I don't have the budget or contacts to get a composer especially for it, so I've been hunting around for royalty free stuff on the internet. I found a site and selected the tracks I thought sounded okay (by description) and my friend downloaded and listened to them (he has broadband). It was interesting recieving the feedback as he listened to them - Bit dull and sad - More majestic - Pretty dark. How is it that music triggers and/or corresponds with particular moods and emotions for us? It's just ordered noise - how can it evoke fear, or convey sadness? Even the music experts seem to be stumped. They'll tell you what kind of music gives a certain feel, but if they can put their finger on why it does so, I haven't heard of it. I can understand why we make music, but not why we listen to it. It's been used down the ages to manipulate our changeable emotions, from the ancient war-horn stirring up warriors to battle, to the pop stars of today who decide exactly what mood they'd like their audience to be in and then successfully bring it about. And what makes a piece of music "beautiful"? There may be principles for this, but if you try to clinically construct a "beautiful" tune by following rules it'll come out merely 'nice' at best. It takes someone working with skill, but from the heart, to create such a melody. Maybe that's what music is all about after all. Language gives us the freedom to convey complex ideas - music enables us to speak feelings.