Skip to main content

December 13, 2011 - Music

Discussion leader: Jay Griffith
Special guests: Eric and Brinn Chipman of the local band Matteo.

Recommended readings (and listenings)

From Eric:

Radiolab: Musical Language
What is music? Why does it move us? How does the brain process sound, and why are some people better at it than others?
The episode is called "Musical Language." It's an hour long, and if you have time, the whole thing is great. If you don't, though, it's worth just listening to the first section (here: http://www.radiolab.org/2007/sep/24/behaves-so-strangely/), which is 20 minutes.

We are going to talk a little bit about the differences in the way the Chinese (traditionally) approach music. Below is a video of a GuQin piece, this instrument is the one played by Confucius and is considered the most "sacred" of instruments.  Also below is a sample of what a piece of traditional chinese music looked like, the actual notation that is.

From Jay:

In addition, here's two more links to listen to, since music is all about listening—but often also seeing—so one can do both with the following:

The first is 4 segments from the World Science Festival in 2009. Daniel Levitin, and other prominent neuroscientists along with Bobby McFerrin explore "Notes and Neurons." Bobby McFerrin keeps things entertaining but there is a lot of good exploration here on the subject at hand. 

Really, most any of the videos on Daniel Levitin's site will apply to our discussion.

The next segment involves MRI's and the brain while performing and then is deciphered by a doctor and scientist. Quite interesting.

Comments