We see that the musical faculties, which are not wholly deficient in
any race, are capable of prompt and high development, for Hottentots
and Negroes have become excellent musicians, although in their native
countries they rarely practise anything that we should consider music.
Schweinfurth, however, was pleased with some of the simple melodies
which he heard in the interior of Africa. But there is nothing
anomalous in the musical faculties lying dormant in man: some species
of birds which never naturally sing, can without much difficulty be
taught to do so; thus a house-sparrow has learnt the song of a linnet.
As these two species are closely allied, and belong to the order of
Insessores, which includes nearly all the singing-birds in the world,
it is possible that a progenitor of the sparrow may have been a
songster. It is more remarkable that parrots, belonging to a group
distinct from the Insessores, and having differently constructed vocal
organs, can be taught not only to speak, but to pipe or whistle tunes
invented by man, so that they must have some musical capacity.
Nevertheless it would be very rash to assume that parrots are descended
from some ancient form which was a songster. Many cases could be
advanced of organs and instincts originally adapted for one purpose,
having been utilised for some distinct purpose. (36. Since this chapter
was printed, I have seen a valuable article by Mr. Chauncey Wright
( North American Review, Oct. 1870, page 293), who, in discussing the
above subject, remarks, There are many consequences of the ultimate
laws or uniformities of nature, through which the acquisition of one
useful power will bring with it many resulting advantages as well as
limiting disadvantages, actual or possible, which the principle of
utility may not have comprehended in its action. As I have attempted
to shew in an early chapter of this work, this principle has an
important bearing on the acquisition by man of some of his mental
characteristics.) Hence the capacity for high musical development which
the savage races of man possess, may be due either to the practice by
our semi-human progenitors of some rude form of music, or simply to
their having acquired the proper vocal organs for a different purpose.
But in this latter case we must assume, as in the above instance of
parrots, and as seems to occur with many animals, that they already
possessed some sense of melody.
Music arouses in us various emotions, but not the more terrible ones of
horror, fear, rage, etc. It awakens the gentler feelings of tenderness
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