The great thing about this book is that it explains so many of music’s conundrums in a brilliantly informative and often witty way.
Why do we use the first seven letters of the alphabet to denote musical pitches? Where did the musical stave come from? What actually is composition? Where do scales come from? Why do we find certain pieces really exciting? Why do other pieces make us feel sad?
Although we may think we know the answers, these and other questions are explained by John Powell in a highly engaging manner. Being both a musician and a professor of physics gives him a remarkable insight into all these musical mysteries. A totally splendid read!
"Any readers whose love of music has somehow not led them to explore the technical side before will surely find the result a thoroughly accessible, and occasionally revelatory, primer."—Seattle Post-Intelligencer
What makes a musical note different from any other sound? How can you tell if you have perfect pitch? Why do ten violins sound only twice as loud as one? Do your Bob Dylan albums sound better on CD vinyl? John Powell, a scientist and musician, answers these questions and many more in How Music Works, an intriguing and original guide to acoustics.
I have found this read especially interesting as I knew both Jan Morris’s brothers, Gareth and Christopher Morris.
Jan, formerly James Morris, and her two brothers make an extraordinary threesome. Jan herself became one of Britain’s best-loved writers. Christopher was head of music at Oxford University Press particularly during the William Walton years. And Gareth Morris was a very important flute player and teacher – he, for example, gave the first British performance of the Poulenc flute sonata.
I was often coached by Gareth as a child on summer music courses. What has intrigued me about this story is how the three of them all achieved at such high levels – the answer lies in Mrs Morris, their very strong and influential mother. You’ll have to read the book to find out more!
'A marvel of clarity, fluency, and (Morris's favourite word in her final days) kindness.' The Sunday Times
The first full account of the remarkable life of Jan Morris: writer, soldier, traveller, and trans pioneer.
Jan Morris is widely considered one of Britain's best-loved writers, known for her observational genius, lyricism, and humour. Born in 1926, she spent her childhood amidst Oxford's Gothic beauty and later participated in military service in Italy and the Middle East, before becoming an internationally feted foreign correspondent. However, public success masked a private dilemma that was only resolved when she transitioned gender in the late…
It’s not that I actually love this book, it’s more that it raises enormously important questions.
Those of us who believe in the power of music well know that without art and culture the future of humanity surely is in question. There are so many issues to consider and this book raises a good number of them.
Regrettably, we live in an increasingly philistine society, sadly too evident in the kind of politicians who seem to be making the rules today. It would also do them an enormous amount of good to read this book and consider what they seem not to consider.
Seminal lectures on music education since the 1990s.
There is no question that music education is in crisis today. The place of music in the national curriculum is controversial; there have been cuts in the provision of individual lessons; and there have been severe reductions in government funding, with more planned. This book, containing the first five Bernarr Rainbow Lectures, makes an important and timely contribution to the debate on music education. Baroness Warnock brings the perspective of a distinguished philosopher to bear on issues about the nature of music and its study; Lord Moser urges us to maintain and…
Do you believe that some people can sight-read and others can’t?
In How to sight-read, Paul Harris dispels this and other common misconceptions about sight-reading, presenting instead the idea of sight-reading as a technique that can be developed and learned by anyone. He breaks down the fascinating science behind sight-reading as well as providing practical advice and exercises that can be incorporated into both lessons and practice.
The engaging activities in the book are supported by a unique accompanying web app enabling readers to improve key areas of sight-reading technique including rhythm, pattern recognition, and brain processing speed. Written to help students, parents, and teachers alike, How to sight-read challenges existing perspectives on sight-reading and presents an innovative new approach to teaching and learning this vital musical skill.
