Music Report Archaeological Finds Show That Prehistoric

Music Report

Archaeological finds show that prehistoric man had already played music. Music and dance are the humans' most natural and original forms of expression. Berendt said of modern generations: "Nada brahma - all is sound," in nature. Stones, bones, pieces of wood, hollow vessels and cups make sounds when pushed, beaten or rubbed together. Stretched hides bang, the buzz of the arrow whizzing off the bow can be imitated with fingers and the murmuring, roaring and whistling of the wind can be caught in reeds, bone pipes or hollow branches.

Today, numerous types of different forms of music are played across the world. Because humans are so diverse, it comes as no surprise that people like different types of music. For example, there are many adults, many of them older, who do not particularly appreciate hip hop and rap. Part of this has to do with the slang language, which can be quite crude at times (Christenson). Also, the style has much more to do with beat than with actual musical tone. However, new styles of music have always caused problems with the older generation. There were many adults, especially in religious groups, who wanted Rock and Roll to be banned, because it was a bad influence on kids.

Ogbar and Prashad in "Black is back" discuss both the pros and cons of hip hop. The authors say that similar to CNN, the music is "offering live updates of the trials, tribulations and peculiarities of neighborhoods and cities, from Lagos to Frankfurt." In the heart of advanced industrial countries, hip-hop serves as a liberation anthem for those oppressed by racism and poverty. On the other hand, however, hip hop is "just one of many commercial products or props used for youth rebellion against the established orders of parents." The music, dress and attitude are used to visibly divide one generation from another. Unfortunately, hip-hop's art of rebellion does not only lead to anti-racist and anti-capitalist rebellion, but it often falls victim to the pitfalls of systemic oppression against which it attempts to rebel. The authors conclude:

Hip-hop alone cannot rise up to the task of political transformation -- this is pop culture not a manifesto. However, by looking at the particular political situations and aspirations of its musicians, we can trace its rise as an iconic power and its demise when the assimilationist powers of the capitalist economy flatten out the music's richness to render it a message of personal gain. (Ogbar and Prashad)

Regardless of the type of music, there are copyright laws that govern its ownership protection. U.S. Copyright Law represents an attempt by Congress to balance the rights of creators and copyright proprietors with those of copyright users. That is, the government wants to protect both those who produce and own copyrighted materials, including composers and publishers, and to recognize the needs of those that use and enjoy these materials such as listeners, performers, and music teachers. The law gives copyright owners the following exclusive rights:

To reproduce the copyrighted work

To prepare derivative works

To distribute copies

To perform the work publicly

To display the work publicly (Moser)

The copyright determines whether permission or a license is needed to play music. A person does not need a license to play music in his/her home or car for personal enjoyment. However, in 2000, questions began arising due to the Internet and downloading of free music. The Recording Industry Association of America filed a lawsuit against the website Napster, accusing the company of encouraging the illegal copying and distribution of copyright music on a massive scale. The court held that Napster's service is not protected by fair use. It also said the service is guilty of two kinds of copyright infringement, has failed to police its system in an attempt to stop the spread of copyrighted works, and does substantial harm to record companies.

Under the Copyright Act of 1909, musical works received protection for an initial term of 28 years and then were eligible for a second renewal term of an additional 28 years, for a total of 56 years. With the revised Copyright Act of 1976, a new duration plan was instituted. For works created on or after January 1, 1978, protection endured for the life of the author plus an additional 50 years after his/her death. At the same time, protection was extended for works created before 1978. Pre-1978 works were eligible for protection for a period of 75 years from the date of first publication (Moser).

In 1998, President Clinton enacted the "Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act," which effectively extends the term of copyright protection in the United States for an additional 20 years above the 50. By adopting a term of "life plus 70 years," U.S. law is now consistent with other nations and American works should become eligible for extended protection abroad (Moser).

As a result, Eric Eldred, who runs the Eldritch Press, a nonprofit group that publishes only those works in the "public domain" (with expired copyrights) sued. He believed the Sonny Bono Act robs the American public of the rich and diverse public domain guaranteed by the Constitution. Organizations that wished to protect their long-term assets, including Walt Disney, Recording Industry of America and American Society of Composers were against the suit.

In the future, music will continue to change along with society. However, it is doubtful that it will ever stop being an important part of the world's cultures. That is what is meant by "music is an invariant." As Liske, a professor from the University of Wisconsin has stated: It has been and will always be: "Music is a necessary, life-enhancing experience which should be nurtured in all individuals, not only in those gifted with musical aptitude."

Music is an invariant. It has been present in all cultures, at all times, and throughout the known historical development of the human species, facilitating emotional, physical, and social expression. Music satisfies the human need for aesthetic enjoyment, provides for communication of cultural ideals, integrates, and enculturates. It serves as both a reflection of, and a catalyst for sociological and technological growth.

This means, then, that it is necessary to be open to all types of art, including music, regardless if one enjoys or accepts it or not. Yet, some individuals, such as Richard Taruskin, professor at the University of California, Berkeley, believe differently. Taruskin is one of America's leading musicologists and a noted expert on Russian music. On December 9, 2001, following the 9/11disaster, the Boston Symphony Orchestra cancelled scheduled performances of choruses from John Adams' opera The Death of Klinghoffer, since the opera's content is perceived by some as being sympathetic to terrorist causes. Taruskin defended the symphony's decision, saying that "If terrorism ... is to be defeated, world public opinion has to be turned decisively against it ..." The New York Times published Taruskin's essay "Music's Dangers and the Case for Control," where he questions the need for self-censorship of music by exploring the idea espoused by Taliban and others throughout the ages, that music is dangerous and has power over soul: Religious distrust often centers on its conduits, especially females, while secular misgivings focus on its ability to influence morals and behavior.