music the universal?

In ancient mythology music and nonhuman animals (hereafter ”animals”) are very closely related to each others. Animals seem to share the realm of music with humans; or to be more precise, music appears as a universal phenomenon which covers the whole phenomenological reality, from the smallest plant to the transcendental powers of the universe. For example, in the hindu mythology Siva in his dynamic form Nataraja is often represented as a flute playing satyr, a snake around his neck, dancing in ecstasy of his own music. This dance creates the whole universe, and the snake is the very symbol of that creative energy which penetrates all the beings and phenomenons. Francois-Bernand Mâche is in his book Music, Myth and Nature collected a bunch of myths from the Greeks related to the relationship between music and animals pointing out this all-embracing power of music. Similar to the symbol of Siva is the myth of Orpheus, who enchanted all the creatures around him into ecstasy with his playing.

The universe, impregnated with sound, is found from the depths of unconsciousness. The myth of Arion is a good example. Arion, who is captured by the pirates, sings a song standing at the prow of the ship before he´s about to be executed. After that he hurls himself into the sea and the dolphins of Apollo come to save him. An irrational act like this is a symbol of meditation and represents daring to risk the great leap into the primordial unconscious (Mâche 1992, 11-12). Apollo is the symbol of the healing force of this leap. On the other hand, the unknown depths of the ocean represent the Dionysiac ecstasy. When Apollo and Dionysos are united they form a powerful force which manifests as a musical myth. It is the quest for truth which is made possible by music, the universal power of reconciliation. Nietzche describes the ecstasy of Dionysiac music:

Not only is the bond between man and man sealed by the Dionysiac magic: alienated, hostile or subjugated nature, too, celebrates her reconciliation with her lost son, man. The eart gladly offers up her gifts, and the ferocious creatures of the cliffs and the desert peacefully draw near. [...] Singing and dancing, man expresses himself as a member of a higher community: he has forgotten to walk and talk, and is about to fly dancing into the heavens. His gestures express enchantment. Just as the animals now speak, and the earth yields up milk and honey, he now gives voice to supernatural sounds... [The birth of tragedy out of the Spirit of music, 17

If myths are considered as spontaneously produced universal mental images, there must be some direct connection between musical sounds and natural universe, including all the animals, since myths deal so much with music. Myth is a psychic content from which words, gestures and music radiate. The poet translates mythic thought into cultural values and makes it understandable, communicable. What part do animals play in all this? Through music Orpheus and Arion are in a direct contact with the entire, animate and inanimate world. Music is the means of discovering the truth (of the world) since it ”hurls musicians into the water to rediscover themselves, so that they are helped by the very monsters they were carrying within”. (Mâche 1992, 18-23.)

from:
Animal music: Music as a universal phenomenon
by Viivi Jokela


















Dolphin Energy Map (2007), Doug Millison