The singing neanderthals: the origins of music, language, mind and body - 1. edición

The propensity to make music is the most mysterious, wonderful, and neglected feature of humankind: this is where Steven Mithen began, drawing together strands from archaeology, anthropology, psychology, neuroscience—and, of course, musicology—to explain why we are so compelled to make and hear music. But music could not be explained without addressing language, and could not be accounted for without understanding the evolution of the human body and mind. Thus Mithen arrived at the wildly ambitious project that unfolds in this book: an exploration of music as a fundamental aspect of the human condition, encoded into the human genome during the evolutionary history of our species. Music is the language of emotion, common wisdom tells us. In The Singing Neanderthals, Mithen introduces us to the science that might support such popular notions. With equal parts scientific rigor and charm, he marshals current evidence about social organization, tool and weapon technologies, hunting and scavenging strategies, habits and brain capacity of all our hominid ancestors, from australopithecines to Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis and Neanderthals to Homo sapiens—and comes up with a scenario for a shared musical and linguistic heritage. Along the way he weaves a tapestry of cognitive and expressive worlds--alive with vocalized sound, communal mimicry, sexual display, and rhythmic movement—of various species. The result is a fascinating work—and a succinct riposte to those, like Steven Pinker, who have dismissed music as a functionless evolutionary byproduct. (http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674025592)

the Propensity To Make Music Is The Most Mysterious, Wonderful, And Neglected Feature Of Humankind: This Is Where Steven Mithen Began, Drawing Together Strands From Archaeology, Anthropology, Psychology, Neuroscience—and, Of Course, Musicology—to Explain Why We Are So Compelled To Make And Hear Music. But Music Could Not Be Explained Without Addressing Language, And Could Not Be Accounted For Without Understanding The Evolution Of The Human Body And Mind. Thus Mithen Arrived At The Wildly Ambitious Project That Unfolds In This Book: An Exploration Of Music As A Fundamental Aspect Of The Human Condition, Encoded Into The Human Genome During The Evolutionary History Of Our Species.

music Is The Language Of Emotion, Common Wisdom Tells Us. In the Singing Neanderthals, Mithen Introduces Us To The Science That Might Support Such Popular Notions. With Equal Parts Scientific Rigor And Charm, He Marshals Current Evidence About Social Organization, Tool And Weapon Technologies, Hunting And Scavenging Strategies, Habits And Brain Capacity Of All Our Hominid Ancestors, From australopithecines To homo Erectus, homo Heidelbergensis And Neanderthals To homo Sapiens—and Comes Up With A Scenario For A Shared Musical And Linguistic Heritage. Along The Way He Weaves A Tapestry Of Cognitive And Expressive Worlds—alive With Vocalized Sound, Communal Mimicry, Sexual Display, And Rhythmic Movement—of Various Species.

the Result Is A Fascinating Work—and A Succinct Riposte To Those, Like Steven Pinker, Who Have Dismissed Music As A Functionless Evolutionary Byproduct.

laurence A. Marschall - Natural History

among The Most Dicey Academic Inquiries Are The Ones That Deal With The Origin Of Human Consciousness. Faced With Difficulties Of Such Daunting Scope, Steven Mithen Remains Undaunted. In His 1996 Book, the Prehistory Of The Mind, He Argued That Both The Origins Of Thought And The Origins Of Human Language Are Natural Outcomes Of Evolution. But According To The First Chapter Of Mithen's Latest Work, the Singing Neanderthals, That Story Was Incomplete. What It Neglected Was The Central Role Of Music In The Psychosocial Makeup Of Our Species...'without Music,' Mithen Writes, 'the Prehistoric Past Is Just Too Quiet To Be Believed'...thus, Mithen Speculates, Humanity Might Have Developed Much As The Individual Does: Music First, Then Language. From An Evolutionary Standpoint, Music Would Not Only Help Ensure The Well-being Of The Individual, But Also The Cohesiveness Of The Group. Calling On Primate Studies, Mithen Likens Group Music-making To Grooming, An Activity That Evokes Feelings Of Contentment And Belonging...taken As A Look At The Natural History Of Music, Mithen's Book Is Thoughtful And Certainly Entertaining.

Preface 1. The Mystery of Music: The Need for an Evolutionary History of Music Part One: The Present 2. More than Cheesecake? The Similarities and Differences between Music and Language 3. Music without Language: The Brain, Aphasia and Musical Savants 4. Language without Music: Acquired and Congenital Amusia 5. The Modularity of Music and Language: Music Processing within the Brain 6. Talking and Singing to Baby: Brain Maturation, Language Learning and Perfect Pitch 7. Music Hath Charms and Can Heal: Music, Emotion, Medicine and Intelligence Part Two: The Past 8. Grunts, Barks and Gestures: Communication by Monkeys and Apes 9. Songs on the Savannah: The Origin of ‘Hmmmm’ Communication 10. Getting into Rhythm: The Evolution of Bipedalism and Dance 11. Imitating Nature: Communication about the Natural World 12. Singing for Sex: Is Music a Product of Sexual Selection? 13. The Demands of Parenthood: Human Life History and Emotional Development 14. Making Music Together: The Significance of Cooperation and Social Bonding 15. Neanderthals in Love: ‘Hmmmmm’ communication by Homo neanderthalensis 16 The Origin of Language: The Origin of Homo sapiens and the Segmentation of ‘Hmmmmm’ 17. A Mystery Explained, but Not Diminished: Modern Human Dispersal, Communicating with the Gods, and the Remnants of ‘Hmmmmm’ Notes Bibliography Picture Acknowledgements Index A fascinating and incisive examination of our language instinct from award-winning science writer Steven Mithen. Along with the concepts of consciousness and intelligence, our capacity for language sits right at the core of what makes us human. But while the evolutionary origins of language have provoked speculation and impassioned debate, music has been neglected if not ignored. Like language it is a universal feature of human culture, one that is a permanent fixture in our daily lives. In THE SINGING NEANDERTHALS, Steven Mithen redresses the balance, drawing on a huge range of sources, from neurological case studies through child psychology and the communication systems of non-human primates to the latest paleoarchaeological evidence. The result is a fascinating and provocative work and a succinct riposte to those, like Steven Pinker, who have dismissed music as a functionless and unimportant evolutionary byproduct. "Music is the language of emotion, common wisdom tells us. In The Singing Neanderthals, Steven Mithen introduces us to the science that might support such popular notions. He marshals current evidence about social organization, tool and weapon technologies, hunting and scavenging strategies, habits and brain capacity of all our hominid ancestors, from australopithecenes to Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis and Neanderthals to Homo sapiens - and comes up with a scenario for a shared musical and linguistic heritage."--Jacket