The curtains go up. On the Origin of Species, published on 24 November 1859 by Charles Darwin is considered (correctly I would argue) to be the foundation of evolutionary biology. Its original full title was On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life which was later changed around 1872 to the shorter, The Origin of Species. It was perhaps felt that “the preservation of favoured races” sounded dubiously racist when in fact this wasn’t what the title was referring to at all. Of course the last thing anybody would do is falsely co-opt evolutionary theory to promote their own despicable and prejudice agenda. Right?
Darwin’s book introduced the scientific theory of natural selection. I am aware of the excellent work of Alfred Russell Wallace and you should definitely watch Bill Bailey’s brilliant TV series on the topic. However I’ve probably got enough work on my hands tenuously claiming that one set of original prose about natural selection should be a musical, without throwing Wallace into the mix. Notable in that it was not written specifically for a scientifically literate audience, The Origin of Species methodically and eloquently sets out the evidence and arguments for the theory that the diversity of life on Earth arose by common descent through a branching pattern of evolution. All any book by Dan Brown can say is that it’s thoroughly absorbent. It is not too much of a leap to say that modern evolutionary theory is the unifying concept of the life science and that little in biology makes sense without it. It’s a good theory.
Is the theory of evolution so good however that it can’t be improved by singing? Musical theatre as an art form combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance to communicate a story and its emotional content. It’s a bit popular. 12.27 million tickets were purchased for Broadway musical shows in 2007-2008. In 2007 total ticket revenues in Central London in the major commercial and grant-aided theatres were £469.7 million. Musicals are not just popular in theatre. Les Misérables, as a film aided by the singing of Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman while Russell Crowe was also there won 3 Oscars and earned £8.1 million in its opening weekend in the UK.
Just because something is popular though doesn’t make it good, he typed realising he’d already used his Dan Brown reference. Popular UK sitcom My Family anyone? Things could always do with a bit of added science and I would definitely watch a musical about evolution. Additionally there is some evidence that music can aid with learning as well as being useful in studying the brain’s natural plasticity. The Origin of Species: The Musical then seems like an ideal form of science entertainment. Primarily though I just thought it would be a fun idea to think and write about. So without much further ado, introducing The Origin of Species: The Musical!
Introduction
The introduction mainly establishes Darwin’s credentials as a naturalist.
Song: Naturalist In The UK
I am a scientist
I am a naturalist
I know what moths I want and
I know how to get them
I wanna catch butterfly.
Chapter 1
Primarily deals with animal husbandry, plant breeding and selective breeding. Darwin describes the astonishing diversity of pigeon breeds given that that they all descend from a single species of rock pigeon.
Song: Crazy Little Things Called Doves
These things, called doves, explained, no religion,
These things called doves , descend, from a rock pigeon,
Selective breeding!
To get these little things called doves.
Chapter 2 and 3
Darwin argues the arbitrary distinction between species and varieties with species merely being distinctive and well-established varieties. He then explores how varieties become separate species and introduces the concept of natural selection.
Song: Taxonomy And Variety
Taxonomy and Variety, work together, to help describe species
Side by side for example, defining different types of trees.
Chapter 4
Darwin further describes natural selection through the relationships of all living beings and the physical conditions of their environment. He also proposes sexual selection to explain sexually dimorphic features such as lion manes, peacock tails and some bird song.
Song: Girls Just Want To Have Good Genes
I’m at home, make myself look fine
Mother nature says when you gonna pick a genetic line?
Oh mother dear I’ll pick the best suited ones
And girls they want to have good genes
And men just want to have good genes.
Chapter 5
Here Darwin discusses the effects of use, disuse and inheritance.
Song: Lamarck The Disproved Theory Sings
With untested thought proclaim:
Use it or lose it is the game.
Lamarck the disproved theory sings
This kind of inheritance isn’t a thing.
Chapter 6
Darwin discusses the existence of intermediate forms and then whether natural selection could produce complex specialised structures. (It can.)
Song: Stuck In The Middle With Gills
Water to the left of me, land to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with gills.
Chapter 7
This chapter covers the evolution of instincts using experimental evidence from ants and honey bees.
Song: Ain’t No Hexagons
Ain’t no hexagons with bees gone
Ain’t no swarm with bees away
Ain’t no hexagons with bees gone
They don’t make that honeycomb
Anytime bees go away.
Chapter 8
In this chapter Darwin addresses the idea that species have special characteristics which prevent hybrids from being fertile and preserve separate species.
Song: Bonnie Facts Of Stock Breeding
Oh you’ll take the hybrid and I’ll take the within-species breed
And I’ll preserve the genome before you.
Chapter 9 and 10
Here we get a bit of rock and look at how the geological record appears to show forms of life suddenly arising, without the multiple transitional fossils expected from gradual changes. Darwin then easily explains this by exploring the science and relative rarity of fossilisation.
Song: You Are Not A Stone
But you are not a stone
You just decayed to goo
Conditions didn’t apply
For you to mineralise
So you are not a stone.
Chapter 11 and 12
The biogeographical evidence is explored and Darwin notes the importance of barriers to migration in the formation of species.
Song: Island In The Sea
Island in the sea
That is where we are
Something between
Half our species gone
Go on breed with me
We’ll start to adapt
And given some mutations, ah-ha
We’ll begin our speciation, ah-ha.
Chapter 13
Darwin observes that classification depends on grouping based on degrees of similarity.
Song: I Believe I Can Classify
I believe I can classify
Pick matching wings and classify
Using nature’s morphology,
To recognise homology.
Conclusion
At last we have the big finale where Darwin reviews the previous chapter and expresses his hope that evolutionary theory might produce revolutionary changes in many fields of natural history. It did.
There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.
Now to get some musical skill, incorporate the differences between different editions of the book and write this!
I would pay money to watch this musical.
I think it would be a better musical if it explored how the book came to be and some of the controversy surrounding it.
I’d watch that too. Or would it be a better drama?
well, his wife was a Christian and did worry her husband would go to hell. But I think a musical comedy would be great if you can add learning in it.
I’m sure learning could be added. I imagine people could learn things from catchy lyrics (not necessarily these ones) that they couldn’t from say, a lecture.
Anything’s possible.
Perfect! Make Lamarck a vampire, and Wallace his half-witted assistant, then you’ve got something.
I’ll get on it! “The children of the night, what music which is similar to the music that the parents of the night make they make.”
I can’t tell you how happy this post made me (written at intermission from backstage at my job on a musical).
Thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed.
I despise musicals. But I think I might be willing to see this one just for the sheer randomness of it.
Another ticket sold! Maybe.
I don’t know if Darwin would agree with this blog.
Possibly. Although difficult to know.
Ha ha. http://www.segmation.com
Very interesting … I wonder if most readers will even understand this because of the misconceptions of many. A toast to your creativity.
Cheers. Hopefully people will be interested and will got to find out more.
Ugh. My kingdom for a lyricist!
They are hard to come by. Obviously.
Reblogged this on New England Diary.
I will now forever sing “Stuck in the Middle with Gills.” And I’m excited about it.
Loved this post! Very creative. 🙂
Thanks very much.
Reblogged this on meinewebwelt über Fotografie.
Brilliant juxtaposition! It’s like School House Rock for the masses. Or the science geeks. Or anyone who needs a more open mind.
Nice 🙂
Thanks.
Girls just want to have good genes…
Geneious! (I apologize for the Dad humor style pun)
But this is pretty amazing… I feel like the boys from Flight of The Concords would execute it nicely.
http://aubreys642.wordpress.com/
I would love to see that.
Reblogged this on New American Gospel! and commented:
I laughed at this just enough to have three people come through my window and steal my lunch money. Thank you. — J.W.
Thank you.
“Just because something is popular doesn’t mean it is good. ” Well said, well said. 🙂
*slow clap* Brilliant, simply… brilliant
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
I DID “THE FIRST FINCH FOUND BY DARWIN” FOR A CLASS I WAS TEACHING…MAYBE IT IS TIME TO DUST IT OFF!!!!
Brilliant!
Yes, I would pay money to see that musical too! Mind you you’d pay a lot more money, for copyright infringement, but who’s counting.
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The missing link! I’ve found it here! You are too much. Hey, Mel Brooks, over here! Look at this!
Reblogged this on Margaret Langstaff and commented:
How did Mel Brooks miss out on this one? The missing link! What a gas.
I would definitely see this.
It’d be a good learning experience for students too. Ha-ha.
Very creative. 🙂
that was something else.
Song: Stuck In The Middle With Gills
too funny…and catchy…
Brilliant! The songs gave me the giggles. Well done.
Reblogged this on The Blackboard Story.
With ‘Book of Mormon’ hitting the West End too, I reckon ‘Origin of Species’ and Nietzsche’s ‘Twilight of the Pop Idols’ (boom boom) would make a great religion busting double-bill.
Pretty solid
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