"One of the most enduring theories was put forward by Charles Darwin, who suggested that, as with bird song, it’s all about sex. “Musical notes and rhythm”, he wrote in The Descent of Man, “were first acquired by the male and female progenitors of mankind for the sake of charming the opposite sex.”"Now evidence appearing to support Darwin’s hypothesis has come in the form of a study by psychologist Benjamin Charlton of the University of Sussex in Brighton, England. In his experiment, he found that women’s sexual preferences for composers changed during their menstrual cycle, and that they preferred composers of more complex music – who might be construed as more capable mates – at the most fertile point of the cycle." (read more)
BBC
24 comments:
I had a wet dream last night! No soundtrack.
lol ricpic, you dog.
Obviously music is about sex; anything to get one up on potential rivals. Closely related, you can't dance without music. And dancing is mostly about appraising the desirability of the dance partner through society sanctioned contact.
Once, while square dancing, a guy 'swung me round,' and it communicated something to me.
@deborah/
You're a square-dancer!? When in Jr hi I used to help my Dad with a two week summer camp he ran at the university using its facilities as a PR tool. HS/Jr hi students from all over the state were housed in univ dorms, they ate at the Student union and had all the facilities at their disposal, tennis courts, golf course, pool, gym, archery range, etc w. instructors in each area. For entertainment in the early evenings there were films on the quad lawn, etc. (this was circa 1958-60) BUT AMONG THE OTHER things, we had a member of the univ music dept faculty who was a National Champion square-dance "caller" who orchestrated a huge square dance experience for the campers each week. Although I was a "blues" and "R & B" kinda guy I'll admit I found the experience fascinating and found myself somewhat "caught up" with the spirit of the thing, so I think I know whereof you speak, lol..
Never noticed about music, but as an avid player of word and number puzzles, I did find that on ovulation days I had to work harder to solve them. In other words I got dumb when I got fertile. That suggests I'm really weird or the study is off. Doesn't the study suggest that girls should only have school tests at certain parts of their cycle?
Obviously music is about sex;
And what is sex about?
Intimacy?
Procreation?
Dominance?
Energy release?
As for dancing without music, bunnies do it, so do bees. Humans, too. Some even go so far as to dance, sing, compose, and paint for the sheer joy of doing so. Soli Deo Gloria.
From the wiki: Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and valuable is created (such as an idea, a joke, an artistic or literary work, a painting or musical composition, a solution, an invention etc.). The ideas and concepts so conceived can then manifest themselves in any number of ways, but most often, they become something we can see, hear, smell, touch, or taste.
Creative expression is the invitation extended to all humans who inspire and expire the breath of life. While music may involve sexual connection and messaging, it is also a form of creative expression.
Southern Baptists don't have sex standing up - it could lead to dancing.
Yes, but Darwin was so wrong about so many things.
deborah said...
Once, while square dancing, a guy 'swung me round,' and it communicated something to me.
Your elastic had just broke.
(old Benny Hill...)
PS You're no square dancer. Bet you can really cut a rug.
lol Sixty, good one.
Virgil, no I've only square-danced twice. I probably should take it up for brain exercise. The second time it did it I could NOT get this one intricate movement...klutzville.
I heard You Make Me Feel Like Dancing on the radio today. Hadn't heard that in 30 years or so.
lol Ed.
No, I'm pretty klutzy as far as dancing. My mom tried to teach me the jitterbug when I was a teen. Could not get it. I probably could now, with a lot of practice.
An oldie but goodie, phx :)
At least I got a lol out of you.
:)
Never got one at TOP.
She was seldom demonstrative. We are how we are.
Benny Hill is a hoot, though I've not watched him in years.
The couplet
Girls who trip the light fantastic
Should never trust in cheap elastic
has never left me.
Perfect :)
I always thought music had something to do wth hearing the murmur of your mother's heart while in the womb. I peaked early. My happiest days on earth happened at about the sixth prenatal month. After the third trimester, it's pretty much all downhill. Anyway, it seems to me that the music of Mozart has the reassuring quality of the murmur of your mother's heart. When I go to be at night, I play Mozart. Even when I can't fall asleep right away, I feel tranquil and weightless in an embracing world.
That's beautiful, William. What are a couple of your favorite pieces to fall asleep by?
It is possible, I suppose, but if music is an evolved trait it seems odd that none of our fellow primates use music.
Non specific Mozart. I came to Mozart later in life. There are no memories associated with his music. That's part of his appeal. He exists outside of time in some prenatal state. It's all just pleasant noise.
This set of Mozart Adagios is where I started when talk about the Mozart Effect was happening in the early 2000's. Since that time, it's been played many times over in our home and car.
Thanks William. Great thought about mother's heartbeat in the womb. It makes me think about everything in the universe being rhythmic. An eternal pulse.
An eternal pulse.
Perhaps part of the same vibration that moves and bumps the discussion to considerations of harmonics and procreation when it comes to music and sex.
Procreate:
1. To beget and conceive (offspring).
2. To produce or create; originate.
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