The Musical Human By Michael Spitzer

Professor Michael Spitzer brings together archaeological, sociological and historical observations - along with theories from biologists and musicologists - to tell the story of what his sub-title boldly claims to be A History of Life on Earth.

Spitzer gained his degree at Merton, Oxford, and then his PhD at Southampton.

He is Professor of Music at the University of Liverpool.

Previously he taught for 20 years at Durham University. An accomplished pianist, Spitzer is a world-leading authority on Beethoven, but he also writes widely on the philosophy and psychology of music.

Omnibus of five parts read by Simon McBurney.

Abridged and produced by Jill Waters.

A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2021.

Evidence of humankind's musicality abounds in relics of instruments from around the world.

Michael Spitzer assembles historical evidence and current theories to create a history of life on Earth. Read by Simon McBurney.

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