Tradition and Evolution in Song Style

A Reanalysis of Cantometric Data

Bibliographic Data

ID5771209
AuthorsEdwin E Erickson (Edwin E. Erickson (Ph.D., Columbia University) is presently Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at the University of Virginia, corresponding author)
Year1976
Volume11
Issue4
Pages277-308
Publication date1976-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBehavior Science Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0094-3673
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/106939717601100403
OpenAlexW2080285636
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited7

This paper reports the results of a reanalysis, using multivariate tech niques, of song-style data reported by Alan Lomax and his associates over the past decade. Lomax et al. have framed out an elaborate case for a causal connection between general cultural evolution and various fea tures of song style, such as text wordiness and melodic embellishment, as measured by the cantometric coding system. In the present paper, certain of these hypotheses are tested with models which include explicit vari ables of societal location. The results of these tests provide considerable support for a diffusional-historic, as opposed to a functional-evolutionary, explanation of song-style variance. On the other hand, certain of Lomax's hypotheses relating vocul qualities to the degree of pi-eiiiat-ital sexual free dom per society received at least moderate support

Melody · Categorization, perception, and language · Language and cultural evolution