Music invokes massive amounts of emotions in people, it catalyzes endorphin release and elevates seratonin production/levels in the brain. When thinking in terms of the correlation between biological mechanism and sensual/emotional effects I see it as a shared evolutionary memory necessary to well-being. Somewhere along the line all species devleop the need to express themselves musically, or aurally in some way. Birds and whales are a primary example of this, they develop intricate, unique, and beautiful sounds even in isolation, and humans are no different. Slaves in the Deep South used songs not only as means of communication but as a coping mechanism to deal with the harsh reality of life. If our brains are wired to respond to tonal melodies then that is proof enough to me that music is a necessity, rather than a useless luxury.
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