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Byung Hoo Park

The Past, Present and Future of Music

Music has been closely related to humanity and its culture from the very beginning. Prehistoric archeological sites show flutes, stringed instruments and even a form of notated music, all of which indicated our ancestral ties with music. Drums further predate these instruments, as the first ever cave-wall-depicted drum was dated from 5600 B.C.. Music is, in a way, a core human experience.


It has been found that dopamine, the "feel-good" neurochemical involved in the experience of pleasure, is released when people listen to music. Such a biological reaction suggests that listening to music is, in fact, a reward to our body. It is also related to evolutionary psychology, a theoretical approach which attempts to explain human’s psychological behavior as an adaptation – a product of natural selection.


For example, a general fear of blood felt by humans may result from the negative reinforcement of the fact that blood is linked to death. Through random mutations, a gene that encourages humans to be fearful of blood may arise. Those who fear blood will be more alarmed by the sight of blood, making it more likely that those with the genes of blood-fear will take immediate action upon the sight of blood and survive. Consequently, the humans with this gene will survive and reproduce, leading to our psychological behavior of today.


Likewise, enjoying music may be a psychological behavior that has been positively reinforced through evolution. There are varying theories on why listening to music is positively rewarded. One possible theory is that songs and music is a method of self-expression and social communication, which naturally makes it desirable. Music as a pattern of sound that is shared can enable social unity, and music as a complex entity which can be transformed in various ways can be utilized as a means of self-expression. Music as an imitation of sounds of nature, such as heartbeats, wind and thunder, can symbolize life, and music as a consequence of motion may indicate the value people put into identifying animate objects. Music may be all of these and even more, and it has co-existed with mankind throughout history.


Experts say music was a fundamental form of expression in early human history, and that it was utilized and enjoyed by all members of society. However, the discovery of farming and the subsequent rise of civilizations created social classes, and as a result music was not shared amongst all, but performed and shared among different groups. As time passed, the music of general people became folk music, while music for the wealthy and powerful developed on its own. For a long time, different kinds of music developed within the social circles of aristocrats. From music performed for kings to religious music in churches, music was primarily consumed by aristocrats with commoners sufficing with their own kind of music. What changed this trend began in the Classical Period, when the music of the nobility began to be shared with the public through public concerts, and consequently composers no longer had to rely solely on the aristocracy for their livelihood.


With the development of modern technology, music became more common and more widely shared. Sheet music greatly enhanced the spread of music amongst people, and radio towers and gramophone records made music recordings easily accessible. This allowed for people to listen to music without the presence of professional musicians. Soon after, mass media and subsequently social media connected the world, and music spread at the speed of light. It also meant that the standard for popular and thus successful music pieces had to change. As the target audience became people of all ages around the globe, music had to appeal to a wider audience, which also meant complex music became less desirable since only a limited number of people would find it likeable. Music is still evolving at an unprecedented pace, and many new, experimental styles of music are emerging.


From looking at the origin and the history of music, we find our intimate connection with it. Music has been a part of our lives from the beginning of mankind, and it will evolve with us into the future.

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