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Explore the fascinating intersection between music and the animal kingdom in this comprehensive 52-minute lecture that investigates whether animals truly make music and how their behaviors have influenced human musical expression throughout history. Delve into the origins of music before humans existed and discover how ancient instruments drew inspiration from animal sounds and movements. Examine natural rhythms found in nature, from the galloping patterns of horses that echo in blues music to the intricate ways musical instruments have been designed to imitate animal calls and behaviors. Analyze classical compositions like Saint-Saëns' works that capture the essence of various creatures, and investigate how insects, bees, and their movements have influenced melodic structures. Focus extensively on birds as nature's premier musicians, studying Messiaen's detailed transcriptions of bird calls and uncovering the hidden musical patterns within avian communication. Venture into sounds beyond human hearing capabilities and explore the compelling question of whether animals can actually feel and respond to music. Discover animals that demonstrate rhythmic abilities and beat-keeping skills, including the famous case study of Snowball the dancing cockatoo. Investigate the sophisticated mimicry abilities of starlings and their language-like vocalizations, while exploring the complex musical communication systems of whales. Learn techniques for transforming natural sounds into human musical compositions and conclude with an examination of DNA as life's greatest compositional framework. Presented by Milton Mermikides, a composer, guitarist, and Professor of Music at the University of Surrey, who brings his unique interdisciplinary background combining arts and sciences to illuminate the profound connections between human music and the natural world.
