Richard A. Baker - The Magic Of Music

ISBN
   

Soort boek
Hardcover

Music produces a kind of pelasure, which human nature cannot do without. That statement, made about 500 BC by the Chinese philisopher Confucius, indicates how universal, and how ancient, is the art of music. The aim of this book is to provide an all-round introduction to the subject for anyone, of any age, who is just beginning to experience its unique pleasures. Accurate and clear, it conveys Richard Baker's enthusiasm for all kinds of music from the most traditional to modern pop. It is written throughout in a light, easy style that makes reading a pleasure. <br /><br />Starting with the question what music is and what effect it has on us, Richard Baker briefly describes its origins in the ancient world when the reed-pipe was identified with the breath of the thunder-god and the drums with the ruler of the deep. Referring to the Indian ragas, the Japanese No plays, and the gamelan orchestras of Indonesia, he also includes fascinating information about the Chinese foundation note, the 'yellow bell' which was considered so important that it had to be re-estabilished for each dynasty by an imperial office of music.<br /><br />The chapter follows with descriptions of musical intstruments, from the human voice to the harpischord.<br />The author goes on to show how notes are comibined into shapes of music such as the sonata, symphony, and concerto, opera, ballet music and the popular song. summing up all this, he relates it to the basic subject of the book: how music is enjoyed.<br />In more detail, two chapters are devoted to how music grew from the Middle Ages to the present day. These are supplemented by short, lively biographics of twenty music's greatest cretaors.<br />Musci, the greatest good we mortals know is the only universal language. Though its magic, says Richard Baker, it may help to sharpen the pleasure which human nature cannot do without.