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Why We Sing: An Ode to Our Musical Origins

A report from the front lines of research into the origins of human music, presenting four popular scenarios for the source of music.

Music is part of human culture and has been around for several thousand years. In spite of its strong emotional appeal, the history of this human characteristic, and the source of its allure remain elusive. This thesis is a report from the front lines of research into the origins of human music, presenting four popular scenarios for the source of music. Music is treated as a homolog for gibbon song, as a co-evolver with language, as a sexually selected adaptation and as a cultural artifact that elicits universally reaching, culturally exclusive emotional responses from listeners.

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Nidhi Subbaraman
Written by
Nidhi Subbaraman

Nidhi is a science reporter at the Wall Street Journal. Previously, she worked at BuzzFeed News, the Boston Globe, and NBC News.

Thesis: Why We Sing: An Ode to Our Musical Origins

Nidhi Subbaraman Written by Nidhi Subbaraman