The Musical Life - Softcover

Mathieu, W. A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0877736707 ISBN 13: 9780877736707

Publisher: Shambhala, 1994

Synopsis

Everyone, according to W.A. Mathieu, is musical by nature—it goes right along with being human. And if you don't believe it, this book will convince you. In a series of interrelated short essays, Mathieu takes the reader on a journey through ordinary experiences to open our ears to the rich variety of music that surrounds us but that we are trained to ignore; such as the variety of pitches produced by different objects, like glassware, furniture, drums—anything you can tap; or sounds that hover on the border of music, like laughter, the clinking of glasses in a toast, or the unintentional falsetto produced by yawning. Along the way the author teaches aspects of music theory that nonmusicians might ordinarily shy away from. He reveals the way of music to be a profoundly spiritual path—one that is everyone's birthright.

About this title

About the Author

William Allaudin Mathieu is a composer pianist whose long and varied career ranges from his early work with the Stan Kenton band and The Second City Theater, to his extensive catalogue of song cycles, works for choir, and instrumental concert music. He has recorded extensively, and is the author of The Listening Book, The Musical Life, and Harmonic Experience: Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origin to Its Modern Expression.

Reviews

Judging from his book, practicing Sufi Mathieu is a philosopher in the Thoreauvian cast. Also known by the name Allaudin, he has had a diverse career as composer, performer, and mystic, all of which is apparent in his treatment of music as a spiritual force with a technical side to it. Aiming to affirm his belief in the centrality of music to human nature, he addresses the nature of musical experience in a string of short, aphoristic essays on subjects ranging from aspects of music theory to observations on the types of falsetto produced by yawning. He writes beautifully, and the book has a calming, uplifting effect not unlike that of the better New Age music, and indeed, Mathieu has recorded several albums for the New Age label Windham Hill. Those seeking a verbal analogue to that kind of music will enjoy this book. John Shreffler

Mathieu, a pianist/composer who recently added writing to his daily routine ( The Listening Book , Shambhala, 1991), offers wise counsel about expressiveness in both words and music. He urges his readers to realize the essential musicality of existence itself. Mathieu's care with specialized terms is exemplified by his delightful explanation of overtones. Composed of short, philosophical pieces inviting contemplation, argument, and further questioning--as articles on aesthetics generally do--this book reflects its author's Sufi beliefs and will probably appeal to fans of New Age music and their libraries.
- Bonnie Jo Dopp, formerly with Dist . of Columbia P.L.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Shambhala
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0877736707
• ISBN 13: 9780877736707
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 248