Is there a Beracha that one must recite when listening to enjoyable music? Generally speaking, we are required to recite a Beracha over the pleasures that we enjoy in this world, even when smelling a fragrance, and listening to pleasant music would certainly qualify as a pleasurable experience. Must one recite a Beracha over this experience?
Interestingly, the Radbaz (Rabbi David Ben Zimra, Egypt, 1479-1573), in one of his responsa (1:297), writes that one who plays music on an instrument must recite a Beracha over the enjoyable sounds that he produces. The accepted Halacha, however, as noted by the Rama (Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Cracow, 1525-1572) in his Darkeh Moshe (216), does not follow this view. Rabbenu Bahya explains that one does not recite a Beracha over music because there’s nothing tangible on which to recite a blessing. When one smells a fragrance, the plant, fruit or herb emits tiny particles into the air which one smells, whereas music is produced by vibrations and carried through intangible sound waves, and these do not warrant a Beracha.
Nevertheless, the Beneh Yissaschar (Rav Svi Elimelech Shapiro of Dinov, 1783-1841), cited by the Piskeh Teshubot, writes that whenever one engages in an enjoyable activity for which no Beracha was instituted, he should make a point of obligating himself to recite the Beracha of "She’hakol." For example, he should take a drink of water so that he would have to recite "She’hakol," and while reciting the Beracha he should have in mind for the Beracha to cover the enjoyment he experiences from the activity in which he engages. This is certainly not required according to the strict Halacha, but it is an admirable practice to adopt in order to train ourselves to express gratitude to G-d for the enjoyment He allows us to experience.
