How did human music originate? Premium

Chimpanzees exhibit spontaneous drumming behavior, shedding light on the origins of human music and potential cultural influences.

The origins of human music are obscure because of the many contexts in which it could have arisen and for a variety of purposes. Archaeologists have found musical instruments among the remains of Egyptian and Indus civilisation sites as well as in similar settlements around the world since the dawn of prehistory. Some theories also suggest human music co-originated with human language, although the evidence is iffy.

This said, scientists have been exploring music among humans’ closest living relatives, the chimpanzees. Researchers reported on May 9 that Western and Eastern chimpanzees both have spontaneous drumming behaviour. They also said some individuals could produce drumming sequences with very stable inter-beat intervals, closely matching rhythms found in human music.

West African chimpanzees were found to be able to keep up longer drumming sequences by using two limbs at a time — alternating hands or feet — suggesting a greater degree of motor control than previously believed. The researchers also said these drumming sessions aren’t intended to communicate and instead may be a playtime activity.

Scientists have studied animal vocalisations more than rhythm and percussion among animals. Per the researchers, the drumming behaviour they have observed suggests that precursors to human musical rhythm didn’t emerge ‘from scratch’ but rather evolved from traits present in the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees both.

Differences in drumming abilities between Eastern and Western chimpanzees also suggest a potential cultural or genetic basis for rhythmic expression, the researchers added.