Music is a long-range image model, which exists only for human beings. As a
newborn baby grows, firstly, speech appears (a symbolic model) and only later,
the qualities associated to understanding music. As music understanding
capabilities appear after the brain aquires the ability to build and operate
symbolic models, it is reasonable to suppose that the symbolic models support
the development of music. This idea is supported also by the fact that
European music (the most advanced in the construction of symbolic models) is
superior compared to any other music from the point of view of its complexity
(polyphonic music was invented in Europe).
Given a sequence of a few sounds, the brain will try to predict the occurence
of the next sounds. Sometimes the prediction is correct sometimes not. If the
prediction is good too often, the impression is described in words like:
boring, monotonous or upsetting. When the prediction is not correct(there is a
large discrepancy between the prediction and IR), the sounds are uncorellated.
If we have an acceptable difference (the sounds are considered corellated
after modifying slightly the algorithm of generation of the sequence), then we
can associate this to music.
The corellation is associated with the capacity of generation of a sequence
based on an algorithm.
This automatic activity of continuous modifying the generation algorithm can
produce a positive state of mind, which can be called pleasure. This means
that the predictions are correct constantly, with high probability, and that
the ones, which are not correct, are accepted, after an acceptable change of
the algorithm. This activity is called currently music.
The corellation can be supported implicitly, as it happens in classical music
or can be supported explicitly (e. g. by rhythm of drums).
If we accept the hypothesis of the existence of a facility associated with
image models (a hardware facility) to build an algorithm of generation of
corellated information, then we could try to see if this facilty evolved in
time or not.
Thus, in spite of the fact that the capacity of the brain to operate with
image models diminishes relatively in time, the development of the capacity to
operate with symbolic models generated new abilities of operation with image
models. In consequence, music evolves based on two somewhat contrary
tendencies. The capacity to build and operate image models decreases due to
the increase of the capacity to operate symbolic model, and, on the other
hand, the symbolic models support the image models in the domain of music.
The symbolic models, which were developed especially in Europe, determined the
high level of complexity of the music. The European polyphonic music is one of
the results of the "marriage" between image and symbolic models in music.
Other civilisations, which did not have an extensive development based on
symbolic models, have created in milleniums of evolution only a simple music.
Let's see in the following some elements of the evolution of music in Europe.
The symbolic 'recipes' appeared in music composition in the time of J.S. Bach.
The maximum complexity of the music was attained during the times of W.A.
Mozart. In that period, the music had several simultaneous musical lines,
which, according to possibilities, were followed by those who were able to do
it. E.g. in the "Great Messa", KV 427 by Mozart, several musical planes exist,
which have to be followed simultaneously. Even nowadays, just the recording of
this work poses technical problems. This musical work is one of the peak
complexity constructions in music.
Approximately after year 1800, due to the increased capacity to operate with
symbolic models, the capacity to operate image models decreased. Music
continued to be polyphonic, but became simpler, with a single melodic line (L.
van Beethoven, contemporary with Mozart).
This simplified music was called romantic music, and was a form of
fundamentalism. The majority of the population lost their capacity to operate
very complex image models, and so, such a simplified music was generated.
This tendency continued with the increase of the limits of predictions
acceptability, due the increase of the capability of construction and
operation with symbolic models. E.g. the music composed by Igor Stravinsky.
When his music appeared, it was rejected due to surpassing the limits of
acceptability. But, in a short time, other musicians and people accepted his
music, as a consequence of the increase of the acceptability limits.
It is reminded that the increase of the acceptability limits is due to the
increase of the capacity to build generation algorithms. An assumption is that
these algorithms are supported by symbolic models.
Nowadays, music is so "advanced" that it contains just a rudimentary rhythm,
and an endless text (hip-hop or rap music e.g.).
The children of our times have a reduced capacity to understand music. Around
the year 1800, some 4 years old children were able to play the piano or
violin, or even to compose music. In our days, this is not met anymore. But,
some children are able to build and operate computer-based symbolic models.
As it is shown also, in some other parts of the book, there is a new form of
fundamentalism nowadays: the rejection of the symbolic models by a fraction of
the population. That is, some people return to harmony (there are many who
prefer Mozart e.g.). The present music is balancing between symbolic-type
music (hip-hop or rap e.g.) and harmonic music. This tendency will continue
for a long time, because it is hard to believe that music will disappear (the
brain is based on image models forever), but returning to the year 1800 type
harmony is not possible anymore.
Music is defined as a special story-type model associated with sounds. This
story-type model has elements generated by an algorithm generator.
The generating algorithm is able to build in a dynamically way the elements
which will be recorded by this special type story-type model. Based on the
algorithm, the model is able to predict the future sounds based on the sounds
already received.
Sometimes the algorithm generator is able to make a correct prediction of the
sound which comes (a hit), sometimes not (a miss). If the prediction fails,
then the generator will modify the algorithm and continue to predict what
follows. When the number of misses is low, this could produce pleasure to the
brain. When the number of misses is zero, there is no pleasure (e.g. a boring
music). When the number of hits is zero, there is no music (no correlation
between the sounds).
As this special story-type model is an image-model, its power is decreasing as
the brain is evolving to symbolic models. On the other hand, it seems that the
symbolic models support the algorithm generator. That is, there are two
tendencies that act in contrary directions. One tendency is to make a
simplified music, based mainly on symbolic models (texts) in the frame of a
rudimentary rhythm (e.g. drums), as hip-hop and rap music and on the other
hand, to make music based on complex algorithms (to enlarge the limits of
acceptability). The present music is evolving between these two large limits.
The main tendencies of the present music are:
- The evolution based on symbolic models. This tendency increases the limits
of acceptability of what are and what are not correlated sounds.
- The rejection of the symbolic models by a fraction of the population, i.e.
people want harmonic music.
- The return to harmony is possible only partially because many abilities
associated with the main story-type model are lost, due to the general
tendency of conceptualization of the image models. That is, the algorithm
generator is better and better, but it acts on recorded data, which are a
simplified copy of the external reality.
Let's see what is the situation with other arts. Almost all classical arts are
in decline. Painting and sculpture are based on pure image models. The general
tendency is to make concept models, and so people are not able anymore to
perceive fine details. This tendency is very easily seen in contemporary arts.
The tendency in visual arts is to make works based on symbolic models, and to
increase the complexity. Some arts as poetry, painting and sculpture are on
the way to disappearance as stand-alone arts. Theatre, because it is based on
symbolic models, is surviving, as it tries to keep the contact with the
tendencies of the society. Music is still in a good shape, as we already saw.
The main ascending art is cinematography.