The Universality of Music Across Cultures

Certain types of songs, such as lullabies and love songs, exhibit a remarkable degree of universality across cultures, prompting questions about the role of music in human psychology. Researchers gathered music from diverse places around the world, including lullabies from New Caledonia and West African dance songs, to explore commonalities and differences in these musical forms. The Natural History of Song project showcases 118 songs from 86 societies, providing insights into how music is a fundamental aspect of human experience that transcends cultural boundaries. This investigation reveals that while some music traditions are deeply rooted in local contexts, others, like lullabies, show striking similarities in function and form across varied civilizations.