The origin and evolution of music: Steve Pretty plays the conch

Episode 333

It’s not often you get to see or hear someone playing music on a conch shell. So prepare yourself for a musical treat with musician and podcaster Steve Pretty, who brings into the studio a trumpet and a collection of his favourite conches, rigged up to some modern electronics.

Steve is best known as the bandleader of the Hackney Colliery Band, and also hosts the Steve Pretty On the Origin of the Pieces podcast.

Performing live on the show and recreating the acoustics of prehistoric cave gatherings (a rave in a cave!) Steve explains the science behind how conches and brass instruments can achieve so many different notes by manipulating air pressure and flow. He explores the evolution and origin of music - which may have evolved before language. And he explains the evocative nature of music, the different functions that it has in society and how it allows us to tap into different emotional states. 

Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

Learn about Steve’s conch playing here: https://www.shellectronica.com/ 

And find his podcast here: https://www.originofthepieces.com/

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