Animals’ music prefs, cicada concert & marvelous moms

It’s said that “Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast.” (Congreve, 1697)  If that’s so, just imagine how much good music must do for a gentle breast.  But don’t simply imagine, look!   

                                 Classic(al) cows                     NYTimes pic

Farm cows’ breasts (very un-savage) were further soothed by music students from the Scandinavian Cello School who perform for them in the Danish village of Lund.  After learning that neighboring farmers like classical music, the school’s founder and his students started weekly performances there.

While some humans attend the recitals, it all began with the cows.  The animals appeared to love the music, rushing toward the musicians when they arrived.  (This fun story comes with terrific images too.)  https://tinyurl.com/3xwbwu2h

Cows aren’t the only animals who prefer classical music.  Cats’ taste for music has been explored in a number of studies, with classical music (“more relaxed response”) coming out ahead of pop (a “meh” reaction), while heavy metal produced “increased respiratory rate and pupil diameter, indicating a stress response,” according to Fear Free Shelters.

However, a different study evaluated how cats respond to classical music compared with cat-specific music (not cat sounds, but music featuring pitch, tempo, and timbre that cats find naturally appealing, like “the tempo of purring, the suckling sound during nursing, and frequencies in feline vocal range, which is two octaves higher than for humans”).

More cats displayed positive responses toward the specialized cat music than the classical selections, and researchers concluded that playing such music in waiting rooms reduces anxiety and increases the quality of cat care in the vet clinic.  https://www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/who-we-are/

Cicadas in concert

As a prelude to what we’ll hear from Brood X, the 17-year cicadas due to surface any day now, I recommend this article-with-sound effects created by cicadas and the human musician-writer, with some musical friends, collaborating with these lovelorn insect visitors.  . . .   https://tinyurl.com/3wtmtp7e

Saluting moms

Finally for this Mothers Day, here’s a collection of videos about marvelous moms in the animal world.  https://tinyurl.com/j8amtf

Pups with wolf mom 
 

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