So we, as monkeys, initially inhabited trees and were pretty dominant up in that landscape. As we descended due to growing troop numbers etc, we realised there were bigger, faster things with sharper teeth. So noise became a way to scare those biguns off, protect hunting territory etc. And of course, being fairly clever, we began to realise that noises made in unison were much more effective. Stomping the ground, beating the chest, probably clacking sticks and stones together, even shouting together..... hey presto, rhythm.
Plausible, but of course, totally unprovable. But I do like it. It also marries nicely with just how primal music feels.
There's a theory about that sense of rhythm.
So we, as monkeys, initially inhabited trees and were pretty dominant up in that landscape. As we descended due to growing troop numbers etc, we realised there were bigger, faster things with sharper teeth. So noise became a way to scare those biguns off, protect hunting territory etc. And of course, being fairly clever, we began to realise that noises made in unison were much more effective. Stomping the ground, beating the chest, probably clacking sticks and stones together, even shouting together..... hey presto, rhythm.
Plausible, but of course, totally unprovable. But I do like it. It also marries nicely with just how primal music feels.