Cutting edge music technology

Dear All

Recently I read independent accounts by Jaron Lanier and Simon O’Dwyer which both suggest that at various points in history different cultures’ most advanced technology has had musical significance. From O’Dwyer, S., 2004 « The Ancient Music of Ireland « Musical instruments can represent cutting edge technology such as the bronze age horns, with which people achieved some of the finest bronze casting of all time 3000 years ago. » « Is it not remarkable that such high levels of achievement were realized in pursuit of good musical instruments » (p31).

And this from :
« A Virtual Conversation with Jaron Lanier » from 2002 in New Music Box.
WILLIAM DUCKWORTH: You’ve been quoted as saying that you think the future first appears in music.
JARON LANIER: I think that might have been about invention and technology. Let me state that a little more carefully. Let’s say you want to be organo-centric, which means you’re paying a lot of attention to musical instruments. So an organo-centric approach to the history of technology would point out that there are an extraordinary number of times where musical instruments appear to have been the most sophisticated technologies in their time and place.

I find this idea really interesting, and would be interested to explore further. Do people care to add their thoughts?
The interview with W.Duckworth continues to look at how scientists are often also musicians. A friend from New Found-land CA helped me, he said that sometimes music is exemplary where science is explanatory (that is of similar concepts made use of through technology engineering or communications). 
     
It would be fantastic to hear back from you if you have any thoughts around this idea. 

Kind Regards, 
Seán Linton
New Zealand
sean@lpnz.org