The Evolution of Music by Culture and Science aims to recognise the
impact of science on music, why it occurs, how we respond, and even to
tentatively see if we can predict future developments. Technology has
played an immense role in the development of music as it has enabled the
production of new sounds, introduced new instruments and continuously
improved and modified existing ones. Printing, musical notation, and
modern computer aids to composition, plus recordings and electronic
transmission have equally enabled us to have access to music from across
the world. Such changes, whether just more powerful pianos, or new
sounds as from the saxophone, have inspired composers and audiences
alike. Acoustics and architecture play similar roles as they changed the
scale and performance of concert halls, and with the advent of
electronics, they enabled vast pop music festivals. No aspect of modern
music making has been untouched by the synergy with scientific
innovation. This is not a
one-way interaction as the early attempts to make recordings were a
major motivating force to design the electronics for amplifiers and
these in turn inspired and enabled the designs of semiconductor
electronics and modern computer technology.
To appreciate the impact of technology on music does not require any
prior scientific background as the concepts are invariably extremely
simple and are presented here without technical detail. Understanding
music and why we like different genres is far more complex, as this
involves our personal background and taste. Both aspects change with
time, and there is no contradiction in enjoying items as diverse as
baroque madrigals, symphonies, jazz or pop music, or music from totally
different cultures.