A new interdisciplinary approach to the study of the origins of traditional polyphony

Abstract

The article discusses a new model of the origins of choral singing in the context of human evolutionary history. Hominid interaction with predators is seen as a crucial force in the evolution of human morphology and behaviour. Group singing and dancing, with body painting and the use of masks, are perceived as critical elements of the strategy to deter predators and to put hominids into an altered state of consciousness. In this state, humans do not feel fear and pain and are ready to sacrifice their lives for the common goal. This psychological condition is still important to many human group activities, particularly in religion and the military. The mosaic distribution of polyphonic traditions is discussed in the context of the origins of language and articulated speech.

Keywords

• origins of polyphony
• dissonance in traditional polyphony
• comparative
• cross disciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches in ethnomusicology
• origin of speech
• human evolution