Posted on 10/16/2015 2:05:10 PM PDT by sparklite2
I just finished the strangest, most disconcerting little book. It's called Why Do People Sing?: Music in Human Evolution by Joseph Jordania.
If the title hasn't already piqued your interest, its thesis surely will. The thesis is wild, bold, and original, but makes an eerie amount of sense. If true, it would be a revolution — and I don't use the term lightly — in how we understand the evolution of music, cooperation, warfare, and even religion.
(Excerpt) Read more at meltingasphalt.com ...
This is an interesting theory and one that I have pondered for years. Who started singing and why? I especially enjoyed the video of the New Zealand soldiers and their war dance. Scary indeed!
Indeed. And a good example.
There is an Australian rugby team that takes what the army did up to the next level. It’s great to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgEKEYAUX2c
I think singing is also a trick to get people to listen to you longer than if you were just talking.
LOLOL. The facial expressions are piceless.
I seem to recall that the Spartans played flutes and danced as their part of their tactical maneuvering while in battle.
If you have seen the Maori War Dance with the chest striking, arm movements and the facial expressions - you should also look at the African Bull Gorilla threats against intruders. Very similar indeed!
Interesting. Never considered that. I guess it is borderline to consider a wolf howling as singing, but canids and man do share many traits.
It’s the old “these dudes are crazy, let’s get outta here” trick.
One thing that comes to mind about the whole battle trance thing is the Scandinavian berserkers.
Another thing is that sung poetry is a very common way to remember and pass on knowledge in a illiterate society.
“Another thing is that sung poetry is a very common way to remember and pass on knowledge in a illiterate society.”
Yes it was an essential element.
Coyotes or whatever it is we have in central Florida get together at night a make noises that could easily be a canine version of song.
Yes it was an essential element.
The "rhythm trance" that was mentioned also focuses the mind so that it is easier to remember the words.
Everyone still remembers the alphabet song they learned in kindergarten.
The OT is full of music, singing, instruments. Seems to be another way to praise God.
How is it possible to remember words to songs we haven’t heard in 40 years but we can’t remember someone’s phone number?
Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder
Und rufen dir im Grabe zu:
Ruhe sanfte, sanfte ruh!
Ruht, ihr ausgesognen Glieder!
Euer Grab und Leichenstein
Soll dem ängstlichen Gewissen
Ein bequemes Ruhekissen
Und der Seelen Ruhstatt sein.
Höchst vergnügt schlummern da die Augen ein.
We lay ourselves with weeping prostrate
And cry to thee within the tomb:
Rest thou gently, gently rest!
Res, O ye exhausted members!
This your tomb and this tombstone
Shall for ev'ry anguished conscience
Be a pillow of soft comfort
And the spirit's place of rest.
Most content, slumber ere the eyes in rest.
That should be the goal but it isn’t.
Very interesting. Thanks for posting!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.