reproductive functions:“Although the sounds emitted by animals of all
kinds serve many purposes,a strong case can be made out,that the vocal
organs were primarily used and perfected in relation to the propagation
of the species”(p.875).He reviewed as examples the sounds of frogs,
toads,tortoises alligators,birds,mice,and gibbons,which are produced
only in the breeding season and usually only by males,but sometimes
by both sexes.He then reviewed the anatomy of sound perception to
suggest that the capacity to perceive musical notes could easily have
begun as a side effect of the capacity to distinguish noises in general:“an
ear capable of discriminating noises—and the high importance of this
power to all animals is admitted by every one—must be sensitive to
musical notes”(p.877).The famous 1868 paper by Helmholtz on acoustic
physiology was cited to explain why many animals would converge on
using tones that belong to human musical scales.Darwin concluded with
a strong critique of the natural theology position,proposing that if male
birds sing to females,it must be because female birds are impressed by
singing:“unless females were able to appreciate such sounds and were
excited or charmed by them,the persevering efforts of the males,and
the complex structures often possessed by them alone,would be useless;
and this is impossible to believe”(p.878).
Immediately after rejecting the possibility that animal sounds are
useless,Darwin pondered the apparent frivolity of human music:“As
neither the enjoyment nor the capacity of producing musical notes
are faculties of the least use to man in reference to his daily habits of
life,they must be ranked among the most mysterious with which he is
endowed”(p.878).He then cited the ubiquity of music across cultures,
and even mentioned recently unearthed Paleolithic flutes made from
reindeer bone to illustrate its antiquity.He mentioned how musical
capacities may emerge spontaneously and reliably in human develop-
ment:“We see that the musical faculties,which are not wholly deficient
in any race,are capable of prompt and high development”(p.878).He
then illustrated how music arouses strong emotions,and how love is the
most common lyrical theme in songs.Apart from his rather patronizing
Victorian attitude toward non-European music,his strategy for arguing
that human music is a biological adaptation and a product of sexual
selection is almost identical to what a modern evolutionary psychologist
would use.Darwin summarized:“All these facts with respect to music
and impassioned speech become intelligible to a certain extent,if we may
assume that musical tones and rhythm were used by our half-human
ancestors,during the season of courtship”(p.880).As the coup de grace,
he preempted the objection that musicians do not mean anything sexual
when they perform,by reminding us that a biological function requires
no conscious awareness:“The impassioned orator,bard,or musician,332 Geoffrey Miller