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Title: Harmonic Experience: Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origins to Its Modern Expression by W. A. Mathieu ISBN: 0-89281-560-4 Publisher: Inner Traditions Intl Ltd Pub. Date: September, 1997 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $50.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (6 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: a text book must-have
Comment: This is hands down one of the best books about music I've ever read. This should be circulated in ever high school and college throughout the U.S. and beyond!
Rating: 5
Summary: ear and mind opener
Comment: I am so glad to see jzmckay's excellent review of this book, posted here. He said many of the things that I feel about this book.
I have studied music, including theory, for thirty years, and nothing has expanded my understanding (and perception!) of music as much as the information in this book.
I have studied music with the author of this book -- he's a great writer about music and an even better teacher! I know that this work is the result of a lifetime of profound consideration of what is at the very heart of the musical experience, and of why music affects us as it does. W. A. Mathieu's highly intelligent exposition is a great gift to all who wish to deepen their understanding of music.
I would like to express my personal thanks to the author for this book, which has enhanced my sensitivity to music.
Rating: 5
Summary: Western harmony - built from the ground up
Comment: As an undergraduate music major interested in music theory, I happened upon this book by accident while browsing through the theory section of the music library looking for a good book on harmony. All I can say is that the book impressed me so much that I ordered my own copy three days later.
What impressed me so much? Well, for more than a year now I've been trying to sift through music theory texts (as well as acoustics and other math-heavy texts) trying to understand why music sounds good. Why did music develop the way it did? Why did tonality and other parts of classical music break apart in the early twentieth century? Is it purely explicable by artistic means, or is there something about the physical world of acoustics (or psychoacoustics) that effected the development of Western music?
My search led me to the area of tuning, in particular, and to numerous other areas of musical acoustics and theory. In any case, this book explains the basics of everything that I've distilled out of scores of books. Most theorists and general musicians have no clue about how music really works--it took me a full year of reading to get some clue. But, this book presents the basics in such a way that the beginner feels at home, but also puts everything together for an advanced reader in such an incredible way that all I could say was, "Why didn't I find this book last year? It puts together everything I've learned in 18 months to produce the theory that I always knew had to exist!"
Mathieu has written a different kind of music theory book, and one that more theorists should read. He systematically derives Western harmony, starting from simple improvised melodies against a drone, and ending with a theory that encompasses jazz theory as well as traditional tonal harmony. Along the way, you learn more than you ever need to know about the tuning problems that led to modern equal temperament (and without the endless mathematics that scares many musicians away).
But, more importantly, you learn to sing intervals--in tune and pure. The beginning (and most important part) of "Harmonic Experience" is about singing--it is about FEELING why music makes sense to our ears, and slowly figuring out how that evolved into modern Western music.
I recommend this book to three groups:
(1) People who want to know why and how music works (i.e., beginners in music theory) - you won't be able to digest everything in this book in one gulp, but, studied along with traditional harmony, this book will enrich your understanding of music in so many ways. It's written at a level that anyone with the ability to read music and play keyboard a little will understand.
(2) More advanced musicians who have some theory background - if music theory always turned you off, or if you ever wanted to understand more of the "why" rather than the "how" that most harmony courses focus on, this is the book for you.
(3) Music theorists - Even if you have a Ph.D. in music theory, I think you can learn something from this book. There are a few places where the author goes a little far out in his way of explaining things, but you often have to do that when presenting an alternative viewpoint. WARNING: this book may change the way you think about theory. I'm not saying this is a new Bible for theorists--but I think it addresses issues that are not adequately considered in current theoretical research. It provides a fresh perspective in a simple, constructive way. Also, it provides a new set of analytical tools based on some already used in theory--but the background the book gives allows you to use the tools in new ways. It is not so much a new theory as it is a new basis for theory and a new way of THINKING about theory.
In general, if you are a musician and want to understand why music is structured the way it is, this will start you off on the right track.
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Title: Listening Book by W.A. Mathieu ISBN: 0877736103 Publisher: Shambhala Pub. Date: 27 March, 1991 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: The Musical Life by W.A. Mathieu ISBN: 0877736707 Publisher: Shambhala Pub. Date: 24 May, 1994 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Ancient Traditions Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew C. Montfort ISBN: 0937879002 Publisher: Ancient Future Music Pub. Date: March, 1987 List Price(USD): $42.95 |
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Title: Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within by Kenny Werner ISBN: 156224003X Publisher: Jamey Aebersold Jazz Pub. Date: January, 1996 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: The Mysticism of Sound and Music by Hazrat Inayat Khan ISBN: 1570622310 Publisher: Shambhala Pub. Date: 03 September, 1996 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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