ORIGINS OF RHYTHM AND THE DEFENCE STRATEGY OF HUMAN ANCESTORS

If we want to understand the history of such a complex phenmenon, as the origins of human music or the tradition of choral singing, we need first and foremost to establish the general historical tendency of development of this phenomenon. How is this phenomenon developing? in whish direction? What are the stable and mobile elements in this phenomenon? Is it disappearing, or on the contrary, gets wider distibution as time goes by? All these issues are of the primary importance, and without addressing them directly all the theories or hypothesis represent baseless constructions. Yesterday, on September 25, 2006, on the opening day of our symposium, Tbilisi State University press “Logos ” published my book, which looks at the origins of human choral polyphony in the wide context of human evolution (Jordania, 2006). In my paper today I am going to discuss only one aspect of the origins of choral polyphony, namely – the emergence of rhythm. I’ll try to argue that the emergence of rhythm was as crucially important step in human evolution, as descending from the trees to the earth, or introduction of bipedalism, or the use of stone tools. But first and foremost we must must discuss the importance of establishing the historical dynamics in th