Put up posts about the human voice and music some time ago (10 September, 07, 8 July, 07, 25 July, 06). There is an article in my Scientific American a little bit ago that keeps coming to the fore in my thoughts, also. The January issue, “The Human Instrument”. Read it, a great article (http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-human-instrument)
The Scientific American article goes over what a miraculous instrument our voices are. The 20 cm that include the vocal cords and the tissues a little above and below can achieve notes that a two meter long bass string or a nine meter long trombone tube or a 10 cm penny whistle can. A trained voice can do five octaves. And with volumes comparable to those huge instruments. Remember reading that the two most astonishing physical things us human beans can do is our vocal abilities and moving on two feet abilities, including all the cerebral wiring to accompany them.
Along with that,of course, is the ability the voice has to stir our souls. Why is it that listening to George Jones “He Stopped Loving Her Today”, Carousel “You'll Never Walk Alone”, All of “La Boheme”, can wring your heart so? And Toby Keith “I Love This Bar”, Gary P. Nunn ”Homesick Blues”, all of Bob Wills and Asleep at the Wheel can make the rest of the day a joy?
Other animals use sounds. Birds and whales sing beautifully. No other large mammals near our lineage do that however. Gorillas and chimps are as good as they can be without having the equipment we have. But they just communicate every day junk like keep away from my woman. Where did all of our music come from? When we aquired the FOXP2, did music automatically come with it? Who was the first cave man to charm his way into a cave woman's furred pants with a song? The Pavarotti of 10,000 BC.
Do we relate a particular song with an event in our past? Tried to find conscious times and places but none come to mind. They just sort of hit us out of the blue.
The human voice is truly a miracle. Both the sending and receiving. One of Mother Nature's greatest gifts. 'Tis a wonderment.
by Anexplorer (PM , CC ) on Thursday April 10, 2008 @ 10:43 PM
There are members of my family, Explorer, who tell me the same. Cast aspersions on my brain power, animal drives, etc., for Pete's sake. Can you believe it?
by indian (PM , CC ) on Friday April 11, 2008 @ 11:19 AM
Oh, yes - music can touch one's soul, emotions, memory, etc.,. I've so enjoyed this post, particularly this morning - regarding '...they just sort of hit us out of the blue.' ...found an internet radio listing for Old Time music; - they were tunes of the 60s !!! Oops - wrong vintage.
by Curious (PM , CC ) on Friday April 11, 2008 @ 11:42 AM
60's music is not as good as 50's music. But still not the wrong vintage. Just too much vintage, Curious.
Visiting kids and driving around The Big City, noticed how much music improves the sitting in traffic times. Kept the breast from becoming too savage, anyway.
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I think my equipment is a throw back to our common ancestor with the chimps.
I've so enjoyed this post, particularly this morning -
regarding '...they just sort of hit us out of the blue.'
...found an internet radio listing for Old Time music;
- they were tunes of the 60s !!!
Oops - wrong vintage.
Visiting kids and driving around The Big City, noticed how much music improves the sitting in traffic times. Kept the breast from becoming too savage, anyway.
Music is so much a part of every culture. There must be a magic that became a part of us sometime.
I am very flat chested, but I do have savage nipples.