| It's a safe bet that, since the arrival of cognitive human | | | | 'hornpipe' or reel; The wonderful gospel sounds that |
| beings on this earth, music has, in some form had a | | | | poured from the wooden churches of the Southern |
| significant effect on their lives. The first sounds, other | | | | states black population were a potent community tool |
| than speech, were probably produced by hitting | | | | to promote and celebrate their culture; a lucky offshoot |
| something; wood, stone or hide; and ancient peoples | | | | was the inspiration of much of our modern rhythm and |
| must have appreciated the sounds of the world | | | | blues. Nowadays factories all over the world use |
| around them; of water, weather and animals; and were | | | | 'piped' music to soothe the workers; if you're doing a |
| the sounds of a rippling stream or a gushing waterfall | | | | humdrum task music can make the time go faster. |
| music to their ears? And when they stood at the | | | | When we think about it music is not just a pleasant |
| seashore did the crashing waves and the suck of the | | | | pastime that is either passively listened to or actively |
| tides move them in some way? | | | | produced. It has a much deeper, more fundamental |
| There is something deep within our psyche, which | | | | purpose. Our reactions to outside events can be |
| reacts and 'remembers' music. It is more than probable | | | | completely altered by music. It can make us happy, |
| that sounds relating to music and rhythm came long | | | | sad, frightened, elated, thoughtful . . . the list of emotions |
| before sounds relating to communication and speech. | | | | it engenders are as long as their number. And words |
| Today, this theory can be tested by noting a baby's | | | | are not necessary to create this ambience; for |
| reaction to a lullaby as compared to speech. If you're | | | | instance, how would silent movies have worked |
| lucky, humming can soothe the most fractious child and | | | | without the music? Those Keystone Cops without the |
| even send them to sleep! Music, in the form of rhythm | | | | frenetic piano plinkity plonk; the doe eyed heroines |
| was used by many peoples as a way of sending | | | | without the sobbing strings; the huge sweeping epics |
| messages to out of sight recipients; consider the jungle | | | | without full orchestral back up? They just wouldn't |
| drums of Africa or the Alpine horn, the Aboriginal | | | | have worked. Nowadays, with the proliferation of |
| didgeridoo or the use of bells as a warning of attack. | | | | world music, we listen to and enjoy music in many |
| The days of learning our lessons by rote have, mostly, | | | | different languages, without necessarily understanding |
| disappeared. This is because it has, rightly, been | | | | a word the singers say; much as opera was once |
| recognised that we don't necessarily absorb the | | | | listened to as the fashionable 'world' music of its day; |
| content of what we repeat over and over again. But, | | | | just another example of the emotive power of music. |
| as an aid to memory, music still has its uses. Songs we | | | | So, it's fair to say that music has an innate basis in our |
| have learnt in childhood can be recalled far later in life | | | | evolutionary makeup. We have probably used it since |
| than mere words. Music is a well known and much | | | | homo sapiens first walked the earth. Other animals do |
| used therapy in illnesses that involve memory loss; | | | | use sounds in their day to day living (frogs croak, dogs |
| Stroke, Alzheimers etc; and not only as a recall aid but | | | | howl, sheep bleat etc.) but, with the possible exception |
| also as a re-learning tool. Speech therapists use music | | | | of birds, we are the only species to enjoy making |
| extensively when trying to teach stroke victims how to | | | | melody out of sound. We've utilised every viable tool, |
| speak again. The rhythm and melody of a familiar tune | | | | from the human voice to electronic tones, to create |
| will often 'trigger' a positive response, when no amount | | | | ever more varied compositions. Wouldn't it be intriguing |
| of visual stimuli has an effect. | | | | to discover how soon into our evolution the power and |
| And then there is the cohesive quality of music; from | | | | beauty of the human voice was appreciated? As the |
| the singing of a country's National Anthem to a football | | | | centuries have passed musicians have been, rightly, |
| crowds chant; from carol singers to brass bands. | | | | feted for their skill to move us with song, melody and |
| Musical participation has been used in every walk of | | | | rhythm. Once musicians were revered as priests, |
| life. The chain gangs of America's Deep South would | | | | interpreting the sounds of the gods. Nowadays we are |
| use music to get through the day and establish a | | | | more pragmatic; but we still need that harmony in our |
| rhythm to mundane physical labour. Sailors would pull a | | | | lives; even if it's only our mobile phone ringtone! |
| hawser or 'sheet' in unison while singing a familiar | | | | |