From Kevin Ryan Sent Tue, Aug 24th 1999, 19:10
From Kevin Ryan Sent Tue, Aug 24th 1999, 19:10
Kelley Hackett <xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxxxx.xxx> writes: >>My point is not to say well he or she did it first. Rather, when U speak of >>an influence, coupled with the notion of going to the root, then it becomes >>as simple as going back to the oldest civilization(i.e., that civilization >>where music emerged out of), and performing ones studies from there. In my >>estimation it all seems quite logical! But I dont wanna get into a >>discussion of the logic progression of things and all! I do! I do! I'm no anthropologist... but... Hasn't the OLDEST evidence of hominid music been in Neandertal societies of central Europe, where anthropologists have discovered one or more bone flutes? That was always my understanding. (Correct me if I'm wrong!) If that's the case, it means a few things: (1) Music has existed longer than modern humans have. (I understand Homo sapiens may be older than Neandertals, but my point is Neandertals are a non-human hominid society.) (2) Music emerged from hominids LONG before civilizations came around. Isn't that something? Music, dismissed by most people as a semi-pleasurable distraction, is more ancient and basic to the human mind than buildings, money, institutions, education, science, government, perhaps even farming. (3) I wonder what the tunings of the intervals are on these ancient instruments.... Hmm.... (4) I'm not pointing this out to try to quibble with your "out of Africa" point. I'm expanding on your point to say that music might be universal in humans and some pre-human (sub-)species. Wherever humans started/went, whether that be Africa or East Asia or Turkey (other origin hypotheses), they had/took some form of music. Peoples were probably beating drums in North America 25000 years ago, and they weren't influenced by African music. The same goes for precivilized Europe, East Asia, Asia Minor, etc. RHYTHM ISN'T AN AFRICAN PHENOMENON, IT'S A HUMAN PHENOMENON. >>Still, your point has merit. And we, as "intelligent" humans, have to be >>the dumbest of all time! In that, we dont learn from what went before us. >>I, U, we cant make axiomatic statements and think they will hold for longer >>the 50 years(its pushing it to say 100years). A "theory" is never "axiomatic" by the very definitions of the words. A theory is a good guess based on the evidence available at the time. No respectable scientist out there will claim his/her theories are the ultimate truth! Humans are VERY intelligent creatures. >>No more List stuff, is all private now Sorry for the off-topic, but I think this subject has relevance and interest. If it's been exhausted on this list already I apologize! ChairCrusher? Seems uncannily similar to Squarepusher... kevin m R.