Judges of contest music may describe a performance as bringing the music on the page to life; of expressing more than the mere faithful reproduction of pitches, rhythms, and composer dynamic markings.
In the company of two or more musicians, there is the added experience of the ensemble effect in which the players express something greater than the sum of their individual parts.
Can birdsong, the song structure of humpback whales, a Thai elephant orchestra, or the interlocking duets of Gibbons be considered music?
[5][6] However, it is still a challenge to demarcate precisely what makes up this complex trait we call musicality.
What are the cognitive and biological mechanisms that are essential to perceive, make, and appreciate music?