Music without Borders - biomusicology research

Science News,  April 15, 2000  by Susan Milius

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In the end, speculating about animal sounds and their effects may tell us mostly about ourselves, says Atema. "All we can do scientifically is to measure our noises, catalog them, analyze their components and structure, and then do the same for animal noises," he says. "`Splitters' will then decide that humans are demonstrably different from animals and thus animals do not have music. `Lumpers' will see many similarities and conclude from the same data that we all have a lot of music in common."

In all the theorizing over the nature of music, Baptista urges listeners to remember the plight of the musicians. A quail species that Beethoven, Schubert, and Haydn all echoed in their compositions has disappeared in parts of Europe, he laments. The Soccorro mockingbirds, which sing in counterpoint, are losing habitat to sheep.

Beyond all the acoustical analysis, Baptista says, "part of the magic of a bird's song is found in the miracle of the bird itself."

Name that tune: a, warbler; b, whale; c, flute; d, person.

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