Music is made up of more than the creativity or talent of its composer, said Utah State University professor and general director of the Utah Festival Opera, Michael Ballam. Its essence of either good or evil transcends the artist.

Speaking Monday in a session of BYU's Education Week, Ballam said that just as hymns and songs can be inspired by God, so can music be inspired convincingly and beautifully by the devil.

"He is a real being. He has majestic powers, formidable powers." Ballam said. "He's preaching his gospel with great eloquence, through some of the most brilliant performers and musicians of all time. Don't tell your children or your grandchildren it's junk, because it's not. You think he would use junk? He uses the best he can find."

While it may seem like a small thing to some, the music people listen to actually has a profound effect on their souls as music is an integral part of the human experience.

Simply defined, music is sound that has been organized, Ballam said.

"Sound is vibration. Vibration is movement. Movement requires energy and energy is the source of life," he said. "Music is life."

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