Bowling Daniel L, Purves Dale
Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Sep 8;112(36):11155-60. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1505768112. Epub 2015 Jul 24.
The basis of musical consonance has been debated for centuries without resolution. Three interpretations have been considered: (i) that consonance derives from the mathematical simplicity of small integer ratios; (ii) that consonance derives from the physical absence of interference between harmonic spectra; and (iii) that consonance derives from the advantages of recognizing biological vocalization and human vocalization in particular. Whereas the mathematical and physical explanations are at odds with the evidence that has now accumulated, biology provides a plausible explanation for this central issue in music and audition.
几个世纪以来，音乐和谐的基础一直存在争议，尚无定论。人们考虑过三种解释：（i）和谐源于小整数比的数学简单性；（ii）和谐源于谐波谱之间物理上不存在干扰；（iii）和谐源于识别生物发声，尤其是人类发声的优势。虽然数学和物理学解释与目前积累的证据不一致，但生物学为音乐和听觉中的这个核心问题提供了一个合理的解释。
