The joy of music

Posted by: mikeeschman on 01 May 2009

Many different sorts of animals will give voice to their joy or sorrow for relief or a simple sense of fullness of one variety or another - and that is the source of all music.

That music is made up of many different things. There are any number of ways one of these musicians might find a voice, and an even greater variety of ways in which s/he might express a passing fancy.

The means by which this is accomplished for all those save singers, is by using an instrument. Some express this love called music by learning to play an instrument, so it can be a true voice. Others whose love of music burns as brightly find expression in designing, building, repairing and maintaining instruments.

So one of the things a listener can learn about music is to learn about instruments : their sound, appearance, how they are held, what a player has to do to coax a sound from it, and all the endless detail of the physical act of playing music, that is comprehended in a moment when seen.

... and we have found a book that allows us to indulge this curiosity about instruments when it suits us :

"Musical Instruments of the World"
-an illustrated encyclopedia with more than 4000 original drawings

by the Diagram Group
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. - New York
ISBN 0-8069-9847-4

This book is a reference quality tool of music, just like your Naim gear ...

10-15 minutes a night for three or four months, and you would know some shit.

One fun game to play is to look at and instrument, imagine what it sounds like, try to find it in your collection, then verify your findings. It is a game that sharpens your ear for musical articulation and color :-)

Any other good music books out there ?
Posted on: 02 May 2009 by Florestan
Mike, I'm going to look for the book you recommended here. I'm fascinated with instruments as well.

I have tons of music books and textbooks but will save many for recommending later on. As someone who appreciates the beauty of sound first and foremost I am also a very visual person. If I am not listening to or playing an instrument, I like to pick up a camera or spend time looking at beautiful images.

One of my favorite books that I spend time with is "Images of Music" by Erich Auerbach (Konemann). Besides covering many of the most interesting composers / conductors / performers from a golden period within the 20th century I find it interesting to take visual clues from these photos and then connect this to the individual's music or recorded performances that I have. I believe these things are all connected. Of course, my favorite photos involve pianists or string players but ultimately, I find that I like looking at the details of the hands of musicians the most. Except for singers, as Mike said, maybe this is because the hand is the most important conduit or connection between an instrument and the soul? Of course the hand connects to the body and second in importance I love to look at the body language and posture. Again, this tells me so much about the person and the sound that they will probably produce.

Regards,
Doug
Posted on: 03 May 2009 by mikeeschman
I have decided to reveal the identity and nature of the most astounding music book in my possession, and a google search has revealed that it is now available in electronic form.

It is "A Dictionary of Musical Themes"
Barlow and Morgenstern
Crown Publishers Inc., New York
ISBN 0-517-52446-5

Which catalogs 10,000 musical themes the way Bartlett's "Familiar Quotations" does famous sayings.

It is simple to use :

1 - Hum the theme you need to look up.
2 - Transpose it to the key of C, for both major or minor.
3 - Look it up in the notation index.
4 - Go to the indicated theme.

This book has provided many hours of pleasure over the years, and neither my wife nor I would enjoy music nearly as much without it :-)