What is the evolutionary root of our appreciation of music?

Question

Was this a pure cultural (non-physical) evolution?
Was there physical need for it (in the brain) for our survival?
Was it just an evolutionary byproduct that is harmless thus it stays?
Or, do you have any other theory?

Answer 1

The appreciation of music stems from advanced hearing abilities - the survival trait of being sensitive to animal calls of various kinds - and is also somehow related to the ability to communicate with others at a distance through use of percussion instruments. Making animal calls - thus imitating pitch and articulation sequences - allowed early Man to signal his tribe members in a way that didn't tip off their prey.


That isn't enough to fully define the basis for musical abilities but I feel it is at least contributory.