What is the biological root of the way we use pitch (melody and harmony) in music? (vor Ort)
* Presenting author
Abstract:
What underlies the way we process spectral information in music? Why do some intervals sound happy and others sad? One way to address these questions is to consider why humans developed music in the first place. Growing evidence suggests that music is not purely a cultural phenomenon but has evolutionary roots that is shared in part with other species. Current theoretical debates have put forth several plausible explanations for the development of music in humans, such as that it helps humans socially bond, that it signals important information about groups, or that it can be used to attract potential sexual partners. These different hypotheses all remain plausible, but based on recent empirical cross-species comparisons between humans and other animals provide a clue as to what prerequisites led us to develop music in its current form: 1) we learn our vocalizations 2) these vocalizations have pronounced harmonic information 3) different individuals have different vocal ranges 4) we vocalize at the same time. I will discuss how these four traits form the basis for our perception and enjoyment of melody and harmony and how studying other animals can help us learn more about the deeper meaning of music.
