How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony (and Why You Should Care)

Name: How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony (and Why You Should Care)
Brand: Unknown
SKU: 9780393334203
Price: 31.99 NZD
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By Ross W. Duffin

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Summary

How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony (and Why You Should Care) explores the impact of adopting equal temperament tuning—the division of the octave into twelve equal notes—on the richness and emotional depth of music. Ross W. Duffin reveals how composers like Bach and Mozart might have experienced more complex and varied harmonies than modern listeners do today, inviting readers to reconsider what has been lost and why it matters for truly understanding classical music's expressive intent.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony (and Why You Should Care)

$31⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for musicians, musicologists, and classical music enthusiasts interested in the technical and historical aspects of tuning, as well as those curious about the foundations of Western harmony.

"A fascinating and genuinely accessible guide....Educating, enjoyable, and delightfully unscary."—Classical Music

Description

What if Bach and Mozart heard richer, more dramatic chords than we hear in music today? What sonorities and moods have we lost in playing music in "equal temperament"—the equal division of the octave into twelve notes that has become our standard tuning method?

Thanks to How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony, we may soon be able to hear for ourselves what Beethoven really meant when he called B minor 'black' (Wall Street Journal).

In this comprehensive plea for more variety in tuning methods (Kirkus Reviews), Ross W. Duffin presents a serious and well-argued case (Goldberg Magazine) that should make any contemporary musician think differently about tuning (Saturday Guardian).

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised as "a handy little book" by The Sunday Times and described by The Guardian as one that "should make any contemporary musician think differently about tuning," Duffin's work is both accessible and engaging. The Times Higher Education Supplement highlights its informative history and clear theory, while the Times Literary Supplement notes Duffin’s lively and charming argumentation.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780393334203

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 October 2008

Country: United States

Imprint: WW Norton & Co

Illustration: 48 illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 211.0mm

Weight: 170g

Pages: 208

Collections

Arts & Culture Non-Fiction Ross W. Duffin

About the Author

Ross W. Duffin, the Fynette H. Kulas Professor of Music at Case Western Reserve University, is the author of the award-winning Shakespeare's Songbook. He lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio.