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A man plays an instrument with a bow (mid Magdalenian culture) Cave painting, Grotto of Trois Freres, Ariege

Composers
No known composers






Music in prehistoric society served everyday needs such as festivities, rituals and laments.

Human beings have created music ever since humanity itself existed. Primitive music consisted of spontaneous singing and body sounds (hand clapping, foot pounding etc.), and later the first musical instruments were added: drums, simple percussion and so on.
Music served people as a means of rite and festivity. The music of prehistoric man was linked to the sounds of nature, and the materials from which he managed to build his instruments. It was "functional" musi