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Tom O'Brien
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8/3/2014 6:07:01 PM
The origins of music
What if we, as early hominids, made some kind of courtship displays to each other before mating as many animals do. This would all be pre-language, of course. But the pre-human animal would have a healthy sound making system, like all primates. Suppose mates were chosen by their impressive vocalizations. That's why John Lennon's screaming drove women crazy. It's why Al Green gets me in the mood. There are certain sounds that some people can make that hit you down deep. They're primal sounds. They're the sounds of illicit passions.
So maybe music is really all about mating, after all is said and done. We may not know it, but we are all programmed to mate, well, most of us. Music has been a prelude to the bedroom many times for me (long ago). I often wonder why we make art of any kind? Part of it is that we are putting on a display for the opposite sex. We're showing our colors, our sounds, the clothes we wear, the activities we do, it's all a part of our constant unconscious display. I'm sure many of you have nobler purposes for doing music, but for me, a lot of it was looking for admiration from girls. Truth be told.
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Bryon Tosoff
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8/3/2014 8:39:54 PM
Interesting post Tom. I dont agree with much of it, except the instinctive aspects of birds that show off through sound and rustling of their feathers or animals of various species that fight off challengers of their female brood until a stronger male takes over and banishes the previous ruler so to speak. My conjecture.
As for humans, I think that music is on a higher plane, almost spiritual if you will, but there are primal instincts within the human animal as you suggested and perhaps there is some inkling of truth of which you laid out. But for me, it is more a thinking aspect for us as beings that possess a mind versus a brain of an animal species that runs essentially on internal instinct, they dont really think, like should I show off my singing qualities, or should I flap my wings and spread out my feathers lol , rather they run off an instinctive aspect in the animal kingdom.. so as for mating or showing off ones prowess using an instrument to conquer the opposite sex, well, perhaps, and if you felt that was a way to impress the girls, well thats cool too. I guess its all how we are influenced.
But what if the thing is true what you say, and every guy walks around with a guitar in their had and plunks a tune trying to compete with you or another guy, and what if they are really bad at what they do, and cant carry a tune in a bucket or sing badly and play bad, not good for mating at all. LOL ......so lets have some fun here and see what else comes up. As for me, it never crossed my mind to impress anyone, I did it for the love of doing and sharing my talent when the opportunities presented themselves at special events or such. but for mating purposes, nah, not a chance in hell...to be continued when time. have a great day
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Bryon Tosoff
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8/3/2014 9:10:37 PM
although we all know of the conquests of bands and guys gals who used their musical abilities to get sex and groupies etc. so what the heck, maybe you are right!
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Stoneman
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8/4/2014 11:04:17 AM
I believe there is some truth in the fact that some of us have benefitted from our musical gifts in regards to attracting the opposite sex. In my early years I was stunned by the attention I received from girls that normally didn't know I existed. But there I am on the stage as the lead singer and wow! Those same snobbish girls were screaming and clamoring to get to me. So, being young and full of you know what, I reaped the sexual gifts that were thrown at me and I devoured every bit of artificial admiration I received. But it didn't take long for me to become bored and turned off by the phony adulations of the groupie set.
So I can attest to the fact that music is a great attractant for meeting girls. Even at my advanced age I still get those looks, free drinks and hotel room keys from grown women who are reliving their adolescent phase. I just ignore it all because I have real love now and I would never jeopardize it for some one night thrills.
However, I believe that music is the universal language that unites many people. It has spiritual elements that set the stage for so many things besides romance. Massage therpists use it to soothe the human psyche and relax the client enough to allow their muscles to be skillfully manipulated. A movie that has a really good sound track will prey on your emotions and assist the actors in relaying emotions of sadness, anger, pain, joy, anticipation and so many other emotions. Imagine seeing your favorite movie without the sound tracks. I guarantee it would not be the same movie to you.
Then there is the divine importance of music in church. Having once been an active non-denominational minister ( Prison Chaplain) I was privileged to be exposed to a variety of church settings and to witness how important music is in regards to spiritual anointment over the congregations. Some churches have rousing ceremonies with music so powerful that the people are up in the aisles dancing, waving their hands and speaking in tongues. Others have soothing music that helps the minister to tug at your heart strings so you can feel the spiritual content of the literal interpretation of the word of God. I have seen people so overcome by the spirit and the music that they fall out and have to be revived manually be the deacons. A church with good musicians is generally a church that is always filled to the rafters on Sunday morning. Churches with bad music are often considered boring.
What I am trying to say is that the spiritual aspect of music is the most demonstrable evidence of its power over the human psyche. Everything seems to be better when there is music to correspond with the experience. I went to a funeral in New Orleans once and they did the death march which was somber and sad. The people were heavy laden with pain for the loss of their loved ones. But after the burial that same band start playing lively music and the entire place erupted in dancing, shouting and singing. In a matter of seconds they went from sadness to jubilation. This could not be accomplished without the spiritual effects of the music.
So, even though we cannot deny the sexual attractive aspects of music, I believe the spiritual content of music is the most important factor in regards to the human condition. From the drums of Africa in which numerical communication was invented, to the soft antidotes of European classical music. It has always been about reaching the inner core of the human emotion. My grandmother use to sit back sipping on Vodka and Orange juice while listening to Bee Bop. Every now and then she would look up at me with tears in her eyes and say. This music really speaks to my soul. I dove in deep and listened intently until my soul heard what she heard. Then I also would had tears in my eyes. It was not the music itself. It was the spirit within the music that spoke to my heart. I believe that spirit originates from within the musician and take hold of the listener. If its down home Blues it makes you sad. If it uptown Hip-Hop it makes you excited, hyped and ready to party. If it is Hard rock it makes you feverishly ready to jump, shout and party. The heart of the musician opens the door to musical communication with the soul. That tend to spark a reaction according to the spirit behind the music. I know, it is all my personal theory but I believe that is a lot of evidence to support my beliefs.
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Tom O'Brien
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8/4/2014 8:27:03 PM
No doubt, music has some kind of strong, spiritual aspect. But music has evolved along with our species, so we can't deny its social aspect, either. I was being a little facetious, but in the beginning I was talking about music's origins, so maybe it has become the powerful thing that it is over a very, very long time. Singing must have come first, don't you think? The voice is the most amazing and versatile of all the instruments. And the sexiest. Of course, non-singing instrumentalists may beg to differ.
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Bryon Tosoff
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8/4/2014 9:40:11 PM
/i agree Tom, about the voice. the closet thing to the human voice in sound is the violin, but as for instrumentalists , some of the greatest musicians that ever walked the face of the earth where just that, and of course trained musicians, singers who are truly well trained and versed in their skill set do wonderful things with the voice. they themselves are a well tuned instrument. it goes much deeper then just thinking one can sing. try it without any musical instrument. thats a challenge. anyways, food for thought. one of my favorite pieces i have ever performed was Beethoven's pathetique. Beethoven probably was the one musician who captured all the pathos possible in this composition. the complexity and the physical and mental aspect to prepare and learn this song is demanding, I think you overestimate the value of the singing, and underestimate the beauty and wonderment of instrumental music. but then again, its a gift to listen and understand what is inside that special music that lives on from composers long since dead. if my music is played by others I be flattered, and in fact it has been, most of my students have performed the songs I have written from pop jazz and classical. So I guess I am a lucky guy watching this happen in front of my eves at the recitals i have given, it is truly a special thing to behold
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