The Arts (Art)

by Carl, Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 03:31 (5931 days ago) @ dhw

Dhw says that language fits in with fight for survival, " But I'm still scratching my head over how to fit in Beethoven's 9th!".
When I wrote the post about language, I intended to tie it into music, but I abandoned the attempt because it seemed a little forced. However.....
Both language and music began as an aural ability. Music used drums and flutes and chants. Music and legends went together. Songs of Homer, tales of Native Americans and Jewish psalms were meant to be sung. I'm sure the music was intended to have an emotional impact, just as it does today. Religious, martial, romantic, disco all have their target emotion. I remember, from my youth, missionary tales of African natives weeping when they first heard religious hymns and rushing to convert. 
When written music was developed, it had the same advantage as written words do for knowledge. Works of the masters could be passed along intact instead of being learned aurally, so we get the direct benefit of their genius. New geniuses could build on the accomplishment of the old geniuses.
This music is carefully selected and cultivated and enhanced to produce the emotional effect you feel from Beethoven. If it doesn't work, it isn't passed on. It is not surprising that music would move, since it was specifically selected for that. Exactly what neural networks are being tapped and why they work is beyond my knowledge however, and that is probably the question you are asking.