The Science of Musical Sound

While the other reviewers here are correct in noting many errors and misinterpretations in this little book, I wanted to insert what I think is useful information about the nature of the book, especially what audience the author seems to address. I bought this book as one of the required texts for a grad course in music perception and cognition the year it came out (92). Looking at it now, it definitely does not seem to be the best book for that context, but I think the professor may have wanted the class to have an easy read that introduces concepts rather than focusing on specifics. (The course had plenty of readings of anatomical and psychological studies and the like.) In looking back at this book, I realize how easy it is to read, and how the author is able to address basic acoustical concepts in a relatively thorough and comprehensible way. His writing style is largely informal, yet inviting. It's certainly not intended as an authoritative science book, but it covers a broad range of subjects at an introductory level. For example, there is a chapter on "Perception, Illusion, and Effect" that is a mere 15 pages long, including illustrations. This book is for people who want a basic, relatively thorough, well-explained education in musical acoustics, and who can tolerate a few errors in exchange for an easily understood big picture perspective.

I read this book in the late 1980s - maybe it wasn't so out of date back then. I was curious about computers and music but didn't know much. A family member gave me this book and it opened up worlds for me. It helped me understand the basic ideas of harmony, and the math and physics behind them. I went on to make electronic music myself, and I don't think I could have done it without this book. I lend it to friends who are curious about acoustics and computer music. Perhaps as an earnest teenage reader I overlooked the shortcomings mentioned in other reviews. I recently found out that the author named the transistor and was instrumental in developing vacuum tubes and communications satellites while he was working at Bell Labs. Maybe the book is overvalued as a textbook in the light of these achievements - and his status as co-founder of the Center for Computer Music and Research and Acoustics at Stanford University. My favorite part of the book was the enclosed flexi-disc with audio examples for many of the concepts in the text. When the disc wore out, I wrote to CCRMA and they sent me a cassette version with additional music recordings. I recommend the cassette because it includes the fabulous piece "Lions are Growing" by James A. Moorer.