Why Music is Genetic

Do you know why Johann Sebastian Bach was considered light-fingered? Or what you could do with a lock of Mozart's hair if you had it? These questions could lead you to an ancient mystery: Why do humans enjoy producing musical notes, as Darwin put it? Is this ability literally in our DNA, and if so, what is it doing there? The authors sailed dangerously close to the Sirens' Rock and joined Orpheus in meeting the sinister creatures of the underworld. They traced the path of sound waves from their source to the listener's brain and analyzed the genealogy of the Bach family and the song of zebra finches. They visited "Scarborough Fair" to buy parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. Eventually, they took the ferry to the "Isle of Capri," referencing Frank Sinatra and the many other singers who have covered that song. Overall, the result is an entertaining and informative analysis of what makes music so fascinating and how this fascination is reflected in our genes from ancient Egypt to the present day.

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