World Science Festival 2009: Notes & Neurons, Part 4 of 10

[Hamerax]

Yeah I think this whole setup is strange; three neuroscientists and one artist. Not very surprising they can't communicate. There should've been, like, one neuroscientist, one musician, and perhaps a musicologist, a philosopher, an anthropologist... some people to bridge the gap.

[jenci108]

That amazing, special thing is consciousness, intelligence who can recognise music in its pure state. If the consciousness clear, pure, innocent then the whole Universe is a song... Life is a long Song - Jethro Tull :-)

[Jogi129]

This one is a kind of comedy. Guys who don't understand at all what Bobby's talking about and think that they would have recognize how life works. A brain thinking about itself cannot lead to something we call truth of the whole life. Bobby has more wisdom than every of those jerks sitting there.

[jbarbeau92]

I can't believe these guys can't understand Bobby's question. How a certain musical performance could have such a huge impact on a person, especially a musician. I would expect a neuroscientist studying music to have had a similar experience. I thought everyone did, with at least one show.

[AhmadAboulFarag]

Theeee most boring talk ever, I think bobby wanted to save that doc from collapsing from stage fright, by asking any question...

He was nervous,sweating, dry mouth, moving body part for no reason....

[trytomatis]

everyone listens to music in a different way because everyone of us needs or focusses on different frequencies- there are days where you need more rhythm or low frequencies in order to activate your body, in other moments maybe you need classical music with high frequencies in order to activate your thinking, your alertness, your creativity-

[godfork]

DOPAMINA FOLKS!

[ibrake4sasquatch]

No moris ... they didn't get his question. They also didn't seem to understand what he was saying about the Miles Davis concert.

[LRifenberg]

I wonder if he knew that H was technically a note...

[luishem]

I think that when we hear a song for the first time our brain starts trying to guess what's gonna happen next, and when it fails, we feel some tension or restlessness that can make it a really interesting experience. Meanwhile, when we hear a song that we already know; the better we know it, the less tension we get, because our brain always knows what's coming next. When we hear someone improvise it's like listening to a completely new song, and that's what makes it a higher experience.

[morrisal]

At 5:48 he is supercute! :)

[morrisal]

I don't think they got Bobby's question...

[deepbluenothing]

Bach utilized the notational conventions in place in Germany at the time--'H' is "German" notation, but the use of 'H' to denote B natural is largely nonexistent today.

Interesting to see these minds together, and funny to see how they can speak to one another and sort of miss each others' meaning. Looks like Bobby is a bit frustrated at his difficulty in getting his specific questions answered.

[morrisal]

@deepbluenothing well, in Hungary, we still use "h" and '"b natural" is a kind of weird to me... and, i guess, whole Europe uses "b natural" that way. CDEFGAHC

[deepbluenothing]

@morrisal @toffeltrompetet I stand corrected, thank you!

[morrisal]

@deepbluenothing that's ok.. :)

[bboyzshannon]

they're making assumptions which they never experience themselves?

[yobhsiFehT]

The question, "Are you sure it wasn't just from what was being smoked in the auditorium," though witty enough, is infuriatingly condescending! It seems to me Bobby knows WAY more about music than these guys ever will, and I think that's largely b/c he's clearly open to the interplay between body and spirit. Music is rarely worth much w/o both body *and* spirit, but since spirit can't be observed or measured, scientists like this will never understand it. They might think they do, but they don't.

[sweetdude01]

@yobhsiFehT

he definantly sees the world in a way they cant.

[yobhsiFehT]

In my experience, it's more like he sees the world in a way they REFUSE to. I find that even sadder, really:\

[Mugulord]

I know at least one of those guys, and almost certainly more of them are also musicians. They are trained scientists as well, and that requires them to de-mystify what they are saying because without clarity of understanding, there is no real discussion of fact. Bobby is a brilliant guy, but in the ability to communicate in a way that scientists can use, he didn't exactly meet them halfway. Both mind sets have uses, and that they sat together and talked is great.

[Mugulord]

As you say above, music is about spirit, but if you really want to discuss what spirit is, you will find yourself talking like a scientist, or communicating very little.

[Justbechillman]

@yobhsiFehT yeah that was so dick! they're like, "oh we're talking science here and this little musician is probably just so baked he has nothing to contribute"

[feipang]

H? lol...

[franciscomoitinho]

@feipang In german notation, an H is a B. And B is a B flat

[feipang]

really? that's interesting. I've checked it up on wikipedia. thanks.

but i doubt that guy knew about that. =P

[xxgunsxx120]

@franciscomoitinho That's in Bach's notation not german

[toffeltrompetet]

@xxgunsxx120 it is german notation and, deepbluenothing, still used in germany every day...

[DonPaps]

@franciscomoitinho Same in Scandinavia =)

[nyebu]

@franciscomoitinho not just in Germany, but also in Hungary, too.

[Denitrifikat]

@franciscomoitinho In Sweden we have a diplomatic "solution" (as always). The official practice is that H is a B and a Bb is a B flat, which, of course, is so confusing that everyone is saying differently.