Customer Reviews

Science and Music

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although I'm personally a fan of Helmholtz's somewhat dated On the Sensations of Tone, "Science and Music" is in my collection because it condenses the essential physics (and a little bit of the biology) underlying music. Right from the elementary definitions of pitch/frequency/period, Sir James Jeans covers the theory of vibrations, the characteristics of strings & pipes, harmony & discord (including Helmholtz's theory of dissonance) - with a quick tour of [intonational] temperaments, and other miscellaneous topics.

The serious reader is probably better off digesting Helmholtz's detailed classic which could, however, prove to be a tedious read for the more casual reader. "Science and Music" instead presents a 'high-school' overview of the physics behind music. The non-technical way in which this book conveys its ideas also allows easy access for those students of music who have a minimal exposure to physics.

If you're a technical dummy like me, but what to understand some of the basic concepts behind how music, in particular soundwaves, are created work and behave... this is a great book. - - The author seems genuinely sincere in wanting to convey the concepts behind the science of sound to the everyday people and makes no attempt to intimidate of show off. - - No, after reading the book you won't be an expert acoustic engineer, but you might want to take further steps to become one... Topics start with the human ear, how sound waves are made/what they are -- the book explains frequency, harmonics, disonance, tuning systems, how scales and chords are put together to get these waves to behave the way we want them (and what happens when they don't) and then takes a look at a wide variety of instruments - - what factors control the sound in a room and lot's more. - - The author's ability to give simple examples that are very eas to visualize is a strong point of the book. - - If you are looking for something very mathematical and that assumes that you're a physics whiz, the book might not be so interesting, however, if you're a musician, there's a lot of insight to be gained by reading the book... and to boot... its very concise and has a great flow. In conclusion: even as a music teacher I would suggest my students to give this a read - - and the abstract realm of "music theory" will suddenly begin to make sense as get to wittness the source from where it comes from and realize that all it is is a bunch of logical conclusions which you'll be able to reach too after finishing the book.

This book presents its material in an engaging and clear way, very interesting, but you must ignore certain outdated assertions in the introduction.

It's a solid general reference on the physics of sound (music in particular) from instrument through air to the ear. It predates cognitive science, it doesn't address that.

Every student of physics and every serious musician should read this book. Having read many books on the "physics of music" this is by far the best i have ever read. Sir James Jeans offers incredible insight even approximately 70 years after is was written.

SCIENCE AND MUSIC is great, but I should like to direct those readers interested in an in-depth more recent study to THE PHYSICS AND PSYCHOPHYSICS OF MUSIC by Juan Roederer.

There are numerous books on music theory and the science of sound, but what this book brings to the table is leaving mathematical treatment of the subject to geometry, and only geometry. Its presentation of simple harmonic motion, and then the superposition of multiple harmonic motions using circles and simple lines with geometric truths provides explanations that resonate with intuition.

An especially well-written and entertaining introduction to musical acoustics. I keep a copy among my musical reference books.

Also recommended: PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by Jeff Burns.

If your into mysticism, metaphysics, and related subjects, and are tired of throwing around words who's meaning you still don't really understand, such as "resonance" "harmony" "harmonics", "scale", "vibration", "tone" and et all, this book will make it all come to life for you. Not the authors intention to encourage such thinking at all, deep and profound metaphysical principles are nonetheless on every single page for those with the ears to hear. New Age groupies: Learn the definition of the words you use first, and you will be all the better for it.

The first half of this book gives good formulas and visual aids...

The second half starts to psycho bable nonsence....

Don't buy this book unless you are good at sorting through useful and un-useful info