Chapter 1: The Universality of Music

When considering the melodies of distant cultures, what images or feelings arise? Do these sounds evoke familiarity, or do they present something so distinct that their essence feels elusive? Surprisingly, your intuition may be more informed than you realize. Different societies craft unique songs for various occasions—whether it’s to initiate a religious ceremony, energize a celebration, or soothe a restless infant. Ultimately, the variety found within cultural expressions often surpasses that found between cultures.

A groundbreaking study published in Science elucidates how music’s roles are remarkably consistent worldwide, even amidst the vast diversity that exists within cultural spheres. According to Sam Mehr, the lead researcher and a psychologist at Harvard, “While every culture boasts its own musical styles, the overarching patterns of musical behavior across societies are strikingly alike.”

Mehr’s interest in this research stemmed from his frequent encounters with the assertion that “music is universal,” which was often presented without proper citations. To investigate this claim, he and his colleagues compiled two comprehensive databases: one detailing anthropological observations of music in 60 different societies, and another featuring 118 audio recordings from 86 cultures.

They discovered three primary traits that consistently define musical behavior: formality, arousal (ranging from soothing to exhilarating), and religiosity. Notably, most cultures exhibited music that fit into multiple categories.

To further validate these findings, the researchers conducted tests involving both artificial intelligence and international participants to determine if they could discern the intent behind various songs. Insights from community scientists worldwide revealed a strong ability to identify themes in music, particularly in dance tracks and lullabies. “Music manifests in a remarkable variety of behavioral and emotional contexts across human societies,” observes Manvir Singh, a Harvard Ph.D. student in human evolutionary biology, “yet it exhibits commonalities across different cultures.”

Cognitive scientist Daniel Levitin, who has explored the evolution of music, asserts that this systematic approach to studying musical behavior is long overdue. He posits that the evolution of the musical brain may have fostered essential human traits such as compassion and empathy, as music uniquely facilitates these emotional states. “Moreover, it can evoke feelings of awe, appreciation, and gratitude,” Levitin adds.

For Mehr and his team, the quest for insights is merely beginning. They are planning more intricate quizzes to further examine auditory responses and aim to study diverse populations, including infants, to observe their reactions to lullabies from various cultures.

Singh expresses a desire to investigate song lyrics and their influence on emotions and actions, even in languages that listeners might not comprehend. “Analyzing the lyrics can help us understand how music elicits emotional responses,” Singh explains, “and, more broadly, the perspectives of the cultures that produce these songs.”

Chapter 2: Exploring the Evidence

This video delves into a Harvard study that suggests music transcends cultural boundaries and serves as a universal form of communication.

In this presentation, John Eliot Gardiner discusses how Bach’s music unites people, celebrating its universal language and emotional depth.