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Harmonic Experience

Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origins to Its Modern Expression
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( 139 ratings, 11 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Harmonic Experience explores musical harmony from ancient fundamentals to complex modern progressions, explaining how and why harmony resonates emotionally and spiritually. W. A. Mathieu bridges historical and contemporary theories, reconciling just intonation with twelve-tone temperament. Through rhythmic, musical prose and examples, readers are invited to experience harmony as a living art rather than abstract rules.
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Format: Hardback
$8499
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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 work is ideal for musicians, music educators, and anyone interested in a profound, experiential understanding of harmony across genres, from classical to jazz.

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An exploration of musical harmony from its ancient fundamentals to its most complex modern progressions, addressing how and why it resonates emotionally and spiritually in the individual.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An exploration of musical harmony from its ancient fundamentals to its most complex modern progressions, addressing how and why it resonates emotionally and spiritually in the individual.

W. A. Mathieu, an accomplished author and recording artist, presents a way of learning music that reconnects modern-day musicians with the source from which music was originally generated. As the author states, "The rules of musicβ€”including counterpoint and harmonyβ€”were not formed in our brains but in the resonance chambers of our bodies."

His theory of music reconciles the ancient harmonic system of just intonation with the modern system of twelve-tone temperament. Saying that the way we think music is far from the way we do music, Mathieu explains why certain combinations of sounds are experienced by the listener as harmonious.

His prose often resembles the rhythms and cadences of music itself, and his many musical examples allow readers to discover their own musical responses. An accomplished recording artist, author, and teacher presents an in-depth look at the way we experience musical harmony.

Harmonic Experience by W. A. Mathieu offers an insightful journey into the profound and intricate world of musical harmony.

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 by Pete Seeger for revealing music's power, the book is noted for its originality and depth by experts such as Chien-Chang Yang and Daniel Atesh Sonneborn. John Coltrane acknowledged Mathieu as a leading musical theorist. Reviews highlight its approach as experiential, accessible, and enlightening for musicians and teachers alike.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780892815609

Publisher: Inner Traditions Bear and Company

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 01 August 1997

Country: United States

Imprint: Inner Traditions Bear and Company

Edition: 2nd Edition, Second Printing with Additions and Corrections

Illustration: 100 musical examples

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 41.0mm

Width: 216.0mm

Height: 279.0mm

Weight: 1837g

Pages: 576

About the Author

W. A. Mathieu is the author of The Listening Book and The Musical Life. His compositions and solo piano music have been extensively recorded. He lives in Sebastopol, California, where he writes, composes, and teaches.

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