Louis Armstrong said about music, "if you like it, don't worry about what it is." To which host Terrance McKnight says, "if you don't like it, just try it in a different setting."

Bach's romantic Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring may be perfect for summer nuptials but not ideal as background music in the local hole-in-the-wall burger joint.

Long before music became a classical art form, it was a simple means of personal expression, communal entertainment, or a way to preserve history. In many cases, ancient composers didn't attach their names to their creations, which are still denoted as "anonymous."

But like contemporary composers, the musicians of the past wrote and improvised to the occasion. They respected the notion that music has to be for and about the listeners. Although music speaks to us personally, there is no "I" in music. It's always about us.

Playlist:

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

J.S. Bach

Gabriela Montero, piano

Angel/EMI

For You, For Me, Forevermore

George & Ira Gershwin

Decca

Duo for violin and piano, Op. 7

Miklos Rosza

Philippe Quint, violin

William Wolfram, piano

Naxos

O Maria, stella maris

Anonymous

Trio Mediaeval

ECM

We are malleable, even though they seem to won us

Itsnotyouitsme

Caleb Burhans, electric violin, voice

Gre McMurray, electric guitar

New Amsterdam

Les Ameriquains

Anonymous

Les concerts des Nations

Jordi Savall, conductor

Alia

If I can Help somebody

Alma Bazel Androzzo

Mahalia Jackson

Vox

Mount of Olives: Hallelujah Op. 85

Ludwig van Beethoven

Utah Symphony Orchestra

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Julius Rudel, conductor

London

Concertino for Jazz Orchestra

Gunther Schuller

Boston Modern Orchestra Project

Gil Rose

BMOP/Sound

Zippo songs: We Came Because

Phil Kline

The Zippo Band

Canteloupe

Chamber Symphony

Paul Moravec

Marya Martin, flute

Jeewon Park, piano

Stephen Williamson, clarinet

Erik Ralske, horn

Ayano Ninomiya, violin

Edward Arron, cello

Naxos

Four Piano Pieces

Johannes Brahms

Emmanuel Ax, piano

CBS/Sony

Proverbs

Steve Reich

Theatre of Voices

Paul Hillier

Nonesuch