Why Did Humans Invent Music?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/08/130824-invention-music-phish-stevie-wonder-blurred-lines-robin-thicke/

Until the hot tub time machine becomes a reality, the answer to that question will remain as mysterious as the true identity of the ’60s garage band ? and the Mysterians.

Nonetheless, academic minds are always trying to come up with a theory. Charles Darwin believed music was created as a sexual come-on. His idea is given credence by the universally acclaimed song of the summer, “Blurred Lines.” (Note: The link goes to the Jimmy Fallon version played with toy instruments and is suitable for work.)

hmm. Music is all around us. Comprehending it and putting it to scale is no different from any other science or maths project.

It is a bit like the fact that happiness is, it cannot be pursued.

Did they invent it or discover it?

The Rev Dodgson said:

Did they invent it or discover it?

Discovered and developed

No one knows my Lord, no one.

Peak Warming Man said:

No one knows my Lord, no one.

Your sidekick needs firing Rev. He’s bloody useless!

It doesn’t need any deep & mysterious reason. Most humans enjoy the inherent aesthetic qualities of music: varied, interesting and expressive sounds and the rhythmic, melodic and harmonic structures they can form in all sorts of creative combinations. There are always some individuals who can take it or leave it, but they can’t stop the music. Nobody can stop the music.

I wouldn’t be surprised if music came before speech, at least in the form of humming.

CrazyNeutrino said:

Why Did Humans Invent Music?

Because dancing looks silly without it.

Riff-in-Thyme said:

I wouldn’t be surprised if music came before speech, at least in the form of humming.

Neanderthal Idol. Losers get thrown out of the tribe to be eaten by elephants.

Didn’t music lead to dancing that lead to rogering and Slane Girls.

Peak Warming Man said:

Didn’t music lead to dancing that lead to rogering and Slane Girls.

Only if you get footloose and kick off your Sunday shoes.

A tribe of Homo erectus were sitting around their camp fire, night after night, stuffing themselves with fatty sausages and guzzling vodka, when one of them suggested: “Hey comrades, maybe if we moved around a bit more, we wouldn’t be so damn fat.”

“Yes, I suppose we needn’t actually go anywhere. We could just stand up, join hands and dance around the camp fire.”

“What does dance mean?”

“Dunno but it’s worth a try, come on”

etc etc

Divine Angel said:

Riff-in-Thyme said:

I wouldn’t be surprised if music came before speech, at least in the form of humming.

Neanderthal Idol. Losers get thrown out of the tribe to be eaten by elephants.

Would have been better Pre-Alphabet Factor…..

I think probably from shamanic origins, on special occasions get amped up on magic mushrooms, get some drumming going, and a bit like the dervishes spin yourself into another reality.

Or maybe innate, kiddies like rhythmic clapping and chanting games.

I think it would be impossible to test these hypotheses?

People enjoy music now, for its own sake, so I think it’s safe to assume that people also enjoyed music in the remote past, for its own sake. When exactly they started making music will always be a matter of conjecture.

dv said:

I think it would be impossible to test these hypotheses?

If there is a genetic involvement there might be a means

Bubblecar said:

People enjoy music now, for its own sake, so I think it’s safe to assume that people also enjoyed music in the remote past, for its own sake.

They didn’t even have Justin Bieber or Andre Rieu.

Nice To Be Here
(Ray Thomas)

Nice to be here hope you agree
Lying in the sun
Lovely weather, must climb a tree
The show has just begun

All the leaves start swaying
To the breeze that’s playing
On a thousand violins
And the bees are humming
To a frog sat strumming
On a guitar with only one string

I can see them they can’t see me
I feel out of sight
I can see them they can’t see me
Much to my delight

And it seems worth noting
Water rats were boating
As a lark began to sing
The sounds kept coming
With Jack Rabbit loudly drumming
On the side of a biscuit tin

I can see them they can’t see me
I feel out of sight
I can see them they can’t see me
Much to my delight

Silver minnows were devising
Water ballet so surprising
A mouse played a daffodil
A mole came up blinking
Underneath an owl who’s thinking
How he came to be sat on a hill

I can see them they can’t see me
I feel out of sight
I can see them they can’t see me
Much to my delight

I know you won’t believe me
But I’m certain that I did see
A mouse playing daffodil
All the band was really jumping
With Jack Rabbit in there thumping
I found that I couldn’t sit still
I just had to make it with them
Cause they played my kind of rhythm
And the bees hummed in harmony
And the owl played his oboe
Then the frog’s guitar solo
It was all just too much for me

I know you won’t believe me
But I’m certain that I did see
A mouse playing daffodil
All the band was really jumping
With Jack Rabbit in there thumping
I found that I couldn’t sit still
…

>They didn’t even have Justin Bieber or Andre Rieu.

I’m not surprised, it took two World Wars and a nuclear arms race to reduce us to such savagery.

Did they have an Elvis Rieu?

I’m wondering if the research still applies to very small groups of people?

Sings you can’t stop the music
Nobody can stop the music