Are We Hard-Wired with the Pentatonic Scale?

Boing Boing posted a video of Bobby McFerrin creating a musical piece from audience participation and Pentatonic Scale.   The interesting part is that it’s completely unrehearsed and spontaneous.  There seems to be something about the scale that is almost mystical and pervasive in music throughout the world.   I’m pretty sure the audience isn’t made up of musicians, either.

To me, it’s just one of those surprising moments when another mystery of the human mind is revealed.