The Basis of Musical Pleasure (Classic Reprint)

Albert Gehring

ISBN 10: 1332822193 / ISBN 13: 9781332822195

Published by Forgotten Books, 2022

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book examines the peculiar power and charm of music, exploring the theories proposed to explain its captivating nature. It delves into the elemental power of tone, the intricacies of form and elaboration, and the significant interplay between music and the human psyche. The author argues that while music's charm lies in its inherent qualities, it also derives meaning from its ability to evoke memories, symbolize experiences, and express profound emotions. The book presents a comprehensive analysis of the formal aspects of music, from its structural divisions to its intricate rhythmic and harmonic relations. It discusses how these elements contribute to the overall effect of musical compositions, ranging from simple folk songs to elaborate symphonies. The author also explores the psychological impact of music, examining how it can arouse feelings of pleasure, dissatisfaction, and aesthetic delight. By combining insights from musicology, psychology, and philosophy, this book provides a rich and nuanced exploration of music's ability to touch the human soul. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9781332822195_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Basis of Musical Pleasure (Classic Reprint)
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1332822193
• ISBN 13: 9781332822195
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • Music Theory and History

About this title

Synopsis

Explore how music carries and shapes our feelings, beyond literal meanings.

This thoughtful examination compares musical elements to mental processes, showing how harmony, rhythm, and timbre work together to influence perception and mood. Through clear comparisons and illustrative examples, it argues that music can both reflect and awaken emotion, even as it defies a single, fixed meaning.

Gehring traces how words, contexts, and backgrounds color our listening, and how music’s patterns can act as fringe-like accompaniments to thought. The book surveys harmony’s role in guiding melody, the way counterpoint voices join or diverge, and how structural devices like cadences and stretto mirror cognitive habits. It also presents debates among scholars about what music can and cannot express, offering a balanced view of competing theories.

• Understand how harmony and melody interact to shape emotional experience.
• See how musical form parallels patterns of thought and memory.
• Learn about the different ways scholars define “expression” in music.
• Get tools for thinking about music that go beyond simple program or story.

Ideal for readers curious about the science of listening, musicology, and the psychology of emotion.