On Mon, Aug 6, 2012 at 3:34 PM, david <gnome@hawaii.rr.com> wrote:

although its not really quite the same thing as having a population that
generally sings and plays music as part of daily life, i would point out
that there are more people recording more music and performing in front
of others than at any other time in human history.

There are more people alive now than at any other time in human history.

well, fair enough, the per capita argument may win the day .... but ....

>I suspect the percentage of people actively recording and performing music is a lot lower. Back in Bach's time, everyone was expected to be able to sing, for instance.

citation? i seriously doubt this. perhaps the more monied classes, but not the population as  whole.