My Version of Music History
My last post got me thinking... my sincere apologies for the repeat theme. I just needed to get this out of my head.
No one knows when human music actually began. There are theories, of course, which I think revolve around rocks, preparing meals, and such. Honestly, when you are doing mind-numbing and time consuming work like mashing some plant into pulp or powder your brain automatically compensates with turning it into a game. A rhythm game. A great example of this was once when I was on hold with Sallie Mae for over a half hour. This woman’s voice kept interrupting the elevator music with short phrases like “Your call is very important to us.” I combined all of the sayings into a four part rhythmic composition. I would never have done anything like that if I hadn’t been extremely bored. What about that prison crew in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” They were singing and using their picks in rhythm. They had nothing better to occupy their minds. I can only imagine that factory workers come up with some of the same things.
Suffice it to say, music began for entertainment value. It was something that came from within and if you thought of something kind of neat, then you showed your friends. Then you and your friends showed some more people and before you knew it everyone in your tribe was performing that music.
More and more people started to create various rhythms and chanting. They became songs for the gods. They became something to do around the campfire as well as when working. People worked together on compositions. The voice became more involved as well as any instruments that people could find. Flutes were made of bone and wood. People enjoyed it... it was something to do, something to enjoy, something for everyone.
As time went on, humans created more instruments. Things became more complex and instruments became harder to play. Not everyone had the time or wanted to learn a more difficult form of music (this is why I think that drum circles are still popular today). However, people can still determine (or at least have an opinion on) what music sounds better than others. There is a reason why we don’t use the hurdy gurdy in modern times, people! ... ... I guess the accordion is like a modern version... and people sure love that... well, anyway, you get the point (maybe)!
We all became musical judges. No one really likes to be judged unless they are going to be told that they are the best. If someone is not a professional musician, don’t judge him! Not all professional musicians are that talented (if you measure them to other musicians). Judging makes music un-fun and full of pressure.
I’d like to regress back to the time when music was for pure entertainment value. You performed songs with your friends and family. Everyone was involved and no one really judged. You ate raw meat and hid from dinosaurs. Where did the fun times go?
"Music is not a competition. The best music is cooperative."- Jerry Garcia
No one knows when human music actually began. There are theories, of course, which I think revolve around rocks, preparing meals, and such. Honestly, when you are doing mind-numbing and time consuming work like mashing some plant into pulp or powder your brain automatically compensates with turning it into a game. A rhythm game. A great example of this was once when I was on hold with Sallie Mae for over a half hour. This woman’s voice kept interrupting the elevator music with short phrases like “Your call is very important to us.” I combined all of the sayings into a four part rhythmic composition. I would never have done anything like that if I hadn’t been extremely bored. What about that prison crew in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” They were singing and using their picks in rhythm. They had nothing better to occupy their minds. I can only imagine that factory workers come up with some of the same things.
Suffice it to say, music began for entertainment value. It was something that came from within and if you thought of something kind of neat, then you showed your friends. Then you and your friends showed some more people and before you knew it everyone in your tribe was performing that music.
More and more people started to create various rhythms and chanting. They became songs for the gods. They became something to do around the campfire as well as when working. People worked together on compositions. The voice became more involved as well as any instruments that people could find. Flutes were made of bone and wood. People enjoyed it... it was something to do, something to enjoy, something for everyone.
As time went on, humans created more instruments. Things became more complex and instruments became harder to play. Not everyone had the time or wanted to learn a more difficult form of music (this is why I think that drum circles are still popular today). However, people can still determine (or at least have an opinion on) what music sounds better than others. There is a reason why we don’t use the hurdy gurdy in modern times, people! ... ... I guess the accordion is like a modern version... and people sure love that... well, anyway, you get the point (maybe)!
We all became musical judges. No one really likes to be judged unless they are going to be told that they are the best. If someone is not a professional musician, don’t judge him! Not all professional musicians are that talented (if you measure them to other musicians). Judging makes music un-fun and full of pressure.
I’d like to regress back to the time when music was for pure entertainment value. You performed songs with your friends and family. Everyone was involved and no one really judged. You ate raw meat and hid from dinosaurs. Where did the fun times go?
"Music is not a competition. The best music is cooperative."- Jerry Garcia