If we see something familiar, then it triggers memories and related thoughts sometimes consciously and unconsciously. The repetition needs not to be exact but "similar" enough to trigger familiarity. The aspects of our intelligence allowed us to adopt in so many different climates and conditions that make the best use of available shelter and resources, to build language and culture to communicate to each other in succeeding generations. It also allows us to appreciate and to create pattern for its own sake in the form of visual and aural arts which human brains particularly seem to have a highly developed and flexible pattern recognition capability.
A pattern is something that we hear and recognize as a similar sound or group of sounds twice then it clicks in our brain. The pattern is often fairly simple consisting of a single note or a few notes in sequence. We will struggle to remember if the sequence is long and it becomes too boring if we hear the music playing many times and cause unconscious experience that can affect us largely due to pattern recognition.
We have a natural basis for some of the foundations for music and how it affects us based upon tempo, pitch and pattern. The cultural aspects of music are built upon these foundations and evolved overtime into complex conventions that are passed from generation to generation. During the musical development, the relative isolation of different communities evolved in different directions, and later cross fertilization between different cultures can lead to the introduction of new elements initially molded to fit the adopting culture and evolved further. There is no denying that many old forms of world music are being "westernized" by the increased means of communication across the globe, we now having some familiarity with the music of different cultures that can perhaps recognize the region of origin.
So far, based upon tempo, pitch and pattern, we have a Natural basis for some of the foundations for music and how it affects us. The Cultural aspects of music are built upon these basic foundations, and evolve overtime into complex conventions, which are passed on from generation to generation. The relative isolation of different communities during this musical development means that they are likely to evolve in different directions. Then later cross-fertilization between different cultures can lead to the introduction of new elements which are initially molded to fit the adopting culture and then evolve further. With increased means of communication across the globe we now have some familiarity with the music of different cultures and can perhaps recognize the region of origin, though there is no denying that many old forms of world music are being "westernized".
The culture of music is such that we share a common set of associations with different music styles, linking some with parts of the world, certain periods in history, or certain groups of people. In some cases this might be amazingly closely defined sub-styles of music which to people of another "culture" might all sound "the same", but sometimes it can be as simple as a certain instrument or rhythm being enough to suggest the style. Because of these associations we might be drawn towards or away from certain styles of music, such that we may enjoy Tibetan music because it is linked to our faith, or perhaps we hate Rock and Roll because our parents love it. So as well as a large set of cultural music associations, we have some very individual associations which alter our musical perceptions and appreciation.