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Analyzing dozens of spontaneous performances by a captive male chimpanzee named Ayumu, researchers said the animal’s steady rhythm and expressive “playful face” suggest how early humans translated vocal emotion into musical instrument sounds.<\/strong><\/p>\n The chimpanzee Ayumu spontaneously produced long multi-element musical displays by drumming, dragging, and throwing separated objects. Analysis of transitions and rhythms revealed non-random sequences, partially resembling a pant-foot structure, primarily isochronous timing, and a more stable tempo using tools than using the body. The accompanying playful facial expressions and tooth-baring quiet expressions suggest high arousal and positive emotions, supporting the idea that emotional vocal expressions can be externalized through instrumental sounds. Image provided by: Hattori others<\/em>., doi: 10.1111\/nyas.70239.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In February 2023, Ayumu, a 26-year-old male chimpanzee at the Center for Research on the Origins of Human Behavior and Evolution at Kyoto University, performed a spontaneous musical performance for researchers.<\/p>\n He removed floorboards from the walkways and used them for drums, creating complex, structured sounds similar to vocal expressions.<\/p>\n Dr. Yuko Hattori of Kyoto University and colleagues say, “Ayumu’s drumming is not new.”<\/p>\n “Chimpanzees are well known for playing musical instruments, and are particularly good at drumming.”<\/p>\n “However, in this case, the combination of Ayumu’s drumming and vocalizations exhibited multiple rhythmic elements, making it an entirely new case.”<\/p>\n From February 2023 to March 2025, the authors recorded a total of 89 spontaneous performances by Ayumu.<\/p>\n The recording shows him ripping floorboards from a walkway and using them as tools to make music.<\/p>\n “It was very interesting to see how chimpanzees use tools to make various sounds and express vocal expressions,” said Dr. Hattori.<\/p>\n