Q: What is the BioMusic Program? 

A: National Musical Arts (NMA) 21-year association with the National
Academy of Sciences (the Academy) in Washington DC placed it in a key position in 1986, when the Academy and the Smithsonian Institution hosted an international conference on Biodiversity. National Musical Arts performed the first BioMusic concert for this pretigious occasion. From that seminal Biodiversity event came together a group of scientists and musicians who "explore the musical sounds in all species".  This 18-year effort is a program of National Musical Arts and is known as BioMusic.

The BioMusic Program attempts to research and understand music in new ways and through a shared understanding between science and music. New technology is also a very important part of this story because it has enabled breakthroughs in how, what, and where we hear musical sounds.

Q: In which sense do you think that animals sounds can be considered music and not just "noise" or simply sounds that communicate? 

A: This question is really about "what is music?" In the late '60's and
early '70's, this was a hotly debated question everywhere -in music
schools, conservatories, and by all music lovers. It was particularly
relevant at that moment because composers and musicians were exploring computer generated sounds, non-traditional instruments and non-traditional ways of playing traditional instruments, and new concepts about how to create music. The musical results pushed and challenged traditional views of western music. Consequently, many people broadened the definition of music to "music is time and sound". 

That continues to be a good working definition for 'music' today. Musical
sounds are used throughout nature to 1) bond and communicate within a
group/culture, 2) attract a mate, and 3) for individual expression. 

The concept of "Noise" is determined by your cultural point of view. How
many of us in the West immediately understand or appreciate the music of non-Western human cultures? Yes, music is about communication because it's in the 'ear' of the creator and receiver.


NEXT PAGE>