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The Music of the Spheres; Music, Science, and the Natural Order of the Universe - by Jamie James (Paperback)
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About this item
Highlights
- The parallel histories of music and science - from celestial harmony to cosmic dissonance.
- Author(s): Jamie James
- 264 Pages
- Music, General
Description
Book Synopsis
The parallel histories of music and science - from celestial harmony to cosmic dissonance. For centuries, scientists and philosophers believed that the universe was a stately, ordered mechanism, mathematical and musical. The perceived distances between objects in the sky mirrored (and were mirrored by) the spaces between notes that formed chords and scales. The smooth operation of the cosmos created a divine harmony that composers sought to capture. With The Music of the Spheres, readers will see how this scientific philosophy emerged, how it was shattered by changing views of the universe and the rise of Romanticism, and to what extent it survives today. From Pythagoras to Newton, Bach to Beethoven, and on into the twentieth century of Einstein, Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Cage, and Glass, this is a spellbinding examination of the interwoven fates of science and music throughout history.From the Back Cover
For centuries, scientists and philosophers believed the universe was a stately; ordered mechanism - mathematical and musical. The smooth operation of the cosmos created a divine harmony (perfect, spiritual, eternal) which composers sought to capture and express. With The Music of the Spheres, readers will see how this scientific philosophy emerged, how it was shattered by changing views of the universe and the rise of Romanticism, and to what extent (if at all) it survives today. From Pythagoras to Newton, Bach to Beethoven, and on into the twentieth century, it is a spellbinding examination of the interwoven fates of science and music throughout history.Review Quotes
"Wide ranging and elegantly written. By the end of it you can almost hear the cosmic music yourself." Wall St. Journal "A provocative, engaging reassessment of the Western musical tradition and its relation to science." Publishers Weekly
"...a graceful and entertaining account of matters seldom presented to the general reader." The New Yorker
Dimensions (Overall): 9.31 Inches (H) x 6.21 Inches (W) x .64 Inches (D)
Weight: .93 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 264
Genre: Music
Sub-Genre: General
Publisher: Copernicus Books
Format: Paperback
Author: Jamie James
Language: English
Street Date: June 1, 1995
TCIN: 83577726
UPC: 9780387944746
Item Number (DPCI): 247-79-0753
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 0.64 inches length x 6.21 inches width x 9.31 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.93 pounds
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