11/20/2019 MinneCulture Presents

Music and Evolution from The Nerve
Why did music evolve in the first place? Some people think music is merely an evolutionary frill, a by-product that has no evolutionary purpose. Darwin himself was puzzled by music. Observing songbirds, he suggested music’s role was in sexual selection. Others believe music’s origins may be found in the mother-infant interactions we call baby talk. Simply consider the importance of the lullaby and the need to pacify infants. Many theorize that music developed in tandem with the social cohesion necessary to the survival of bands of early humans, critical to them through its power to strengthen communal bonds.