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
Another theory of the origin of music is that it arose through the
imitation by primitive man of bird-songs and other sounds in Nature.
It is true that in a collection of the music of many savage tribes
there are numerous songs which are certainly imitations of certain bird
calls and other animal cries. Particularly are these to be noted in
the music of the North American Indians. They have 'Pelican,’ 'Crane,’
'Elk,’ and 'Buffalo’ songs, and even songs imitating the wind in the
pines. Their animal songs are to a large extent but slight developments
of the cry of the animal himself. This cry was probably first used
by the primitive hunter as a decoy, and eventually through frequent
use became a recognized song. Although many primitive songs have
undoubtedly arisen in this way, the theory of imitation considered as
an explanation of the origin of music is somewhat in discredit with
ethnologists and philosophers. It is much too partial and there are too
many cases to which it certainly cannot apply.
In his study _Arbeit und Rhythmus_ Karl Bücher advances the idea that
through regular 'work’ of any kind 'song’ as an accompaniment is
naturally induced. The regularity of the 'work,’ be it walking, driving
a stake, or grinding corn in a hollowed-out stone, supplies one element
of music; i. e., rhythm. One element of a tune being present, what
more natural than an attempt on the part of the worker to supply the
other element and thus lighten the labor? Especially is this likely
to happen if the task require several workers who are obliged to work
together, somewhat in unison. Bücher says 'Song is the offspring of
labor. It is a means employed to discipline individual activities to
the accomplishment of a common task.’
Leaving out of consideration, however, all external stimuli which may
or may not have had a determinative influence in the development of
primitive music, we cannot but think of the remark of Karl Böckel,
which strikes the note of truth: 'Song has its origin in the cry of joy
or sorrow; in the need of expression inborn in all peoples in a state
of nature.’
II
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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