The art of music. Vol. 01 (of 14) : $b The pre-Classic periods — John Shaqi
The art of music. Vol. 01 (of 14) : $b The pre-Classic periods
History
The art of music. Vol. 01 (of 14) : $b The pre-Classic periods
Music -- History and criticism; Musicians
Spencer’s explanation is pure theory, based as it is not upon
observation of particular facts, but upon a knowledge of certain
physiological laws. Darwin’s explanation, on the contrary, is evidently
based on very careful observations of particular instances of the
manifestation of the primitive musical faculty. Nevertheless, however
interestingly Darwin writes concerning the origin of music, Spencer’s
explanation must seem to us the broader, more inclusive and satisfying
of the two, inasmuch as it bases the origin of music in a variety of
emotional experiences rather than in only one (the love emotion).
Darwin, however, says that the emotion of love may give rise to many
other emotions of a quite different character, such as rage, jealousy,
and triumph; and proceeds to indicate the possible development of
various kinds of primitive songs from primitive love songs. It is,
however, difficult for us to conceive of the development of war songs,
incantations, or howls of grief for the dead as having been developed
from primitive love songs.
According to Grosse, music arose from the play instinct. It is one
of the forms in which superabundant energy is spent. Most animals,
including man, are endowed with more than enough energy than is
absolutely necessary to supply their physical needs. This superabundant
energy is expressed in different kinds of play. The leaping and diving
of the porpoise, the gambolling of dogs, the running of races, and the
playing of games among primitive men are examples of the working of
the play instinct. Our modern sports, tennis, football, etc., are also
examples of it. According to this theory, singing and dancing first
arose as means of diversion from the monotony of existence, as a means
of whiling away the time and making life pleasant. This is a most
important theory, and while it probably is not wholly true, it contains
a large percentage of truth. It is upheld by a great number of writers
besides Grosse, and has great significance concerning the origin of all
the Arts, including music.
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