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Product Description
Product Description
This groundbreaking book presents the elements of music in a way that is pedagogically clear and comprehensible by building upon simple principles of proportion and relationship. Covering the fundamentals of musical composition right up to counterpoint, jazz chords and the analysis of a sonata, never before has so much music theory been squeezed into so small a space. A great primer for the novice or professional, as well as an invaluable resource for composers and students.
About the Author
Dr. Jason Martineau is a renowned composer, pianist, and private instructor living in Berkeley, California. This is his first book.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The cover design and outward appearance of this book are excellent and I suspect the set would look great on a shelf.
Unfortunately this book requires so much in-depth prior understanding of music theory that I suspect only professional musicians with and excellent grasp of music theory will actually understand it.
Here's a taster from the chapter entitled "Meet the Intervals"
"Intervals can be thought of in two ways: The first is as an ever-contracting series of simple frequency ratios, so that the first interval (the octave) is a 2:1 relationship, the second (the fifth) is 3:2, and the third (the fourth) is 4:3. The follow the major third of 5:4, the minor third of 6:5, the second of 9:8 or 10:9, and yet smaller intervals, with names like the quarter tone, shruti, li, comma, apotome, and microtone, depending upon the ere and culture.
I was always taught that if you don't understand what's being taught then it's not being taught very well. It's such a shame that, although I believe there might some valuable insights in this little book, what's of value is buried in an inaccessible code only decipherable by music-math savants.
I might just be being thick of course.
Unfortunately this book requires so much in-depth prior understanding of music theory that I suspect only professional musicians with and excellent grasp of music theory will actually understand it.
Here's a taster from the chapter entitled "Meet the Intervals"
"Intervals can be thought of in two ways: The first is as an ever-contracting series of simple frequency ratios, so that the first interval (the octave) is a 2:1 relationship, the second (the fifth) is 3:2, and the third (the fourth) is 4:3. The follow the major third of 5:4, the minor third of 6:5, the second of 9:8 or 10:9, and yet smaller intervals, with names like the quarter tone, shruti, li, comma, apotome, and microtone, depending upon the ere and culture.
I was always taught that if you don't understand what's being taught then it's not being taught very well. It's such a shame that, although I believe there might some valuable insights in this little book, what's of value is buried in an inaccessible code only decipherable by music-math savants.
I might just be being thick of course.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This series of little books comes with fabulous reviews. This one is loaded with information. Unfortunately, some of that information is so reduced in form that you may need to go and reference other books in depth to get a glimmer of what they are talking about.
I play guitar and know a little very basic stuff about music (how scales work, roughly how to go about building chords...which chord sequences sound right together....(which in this day and age gets taken for a "lot" by the poorly informed). I found the use of images and patterns to visually describe the parts of different musical forms like Symphonies in this book, quite useful. Unfortunately, there were passages that read like a foreign language and I struggled to apply what I knew before to what the author was trying to tell me. A lot of prior knowledge is assumed.
Another reviewer has pointed out that the printing of the whole series is in very tiny and grey print that can be challenging unless your eyesight is good.
That said, if you are involved in a comprehensive learning programme, this will probably be a little key piece you will need within the context of that programme.
I play guitar and know a little very basic stuff about music (how scales work, roughly how to go about building chords...which chord sequences sound right together....(which in this day and age gets taken for a "lot" by the poorly informed). I found the use of images and patterns to visually describe the parts of different musical forms like Symphonies in this book, quite useful. Unfortunately, there were passages that read like a foreign language and I struggled to apply what I knew before to what the author was trying to tell me. A lot of prior knowledge is assumed.
Another reviewer has pointed out that the printing of the whole series is in very tiny and grey print that can be challenging unless your eyesight is good.
That said, if you are involved in a comprehensive learning programme, this will probably be a little key piece you will need within the context of that programme.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The quote from this intriguing book, 'How the fabric of music is woven' says it all. The attractive presentation with beautiful pictures such as the `temple of music' makes it a book that is good to handle and a delight. The subject matter, covering the relationships of tones and rhythm includes an amazing amount of information from the basics to refreshing insights into form, tonality, modulations and analysis of harmonies, so clearly presented and very readable. I have learnt so much from it and already made sure that a couple of my piano pupils have a copy of the book. The size is A6, I am amazed at how much is packed in this compact and very useful book. Review written by my wife Lesley Bunce, who is a piano teacher.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
get a magnifying glass first
Get a magnifying glass first if you want to enjoy this book. While the content is useful and the visuals attractive, the size of the pictures and the font on the right-side pages... Read more
Published 28 days ago by crimsonhexagon
Comprehensive, succinct and cute!
Wow - this book is amazing value. All the formulaic stuff that musicians and composers might want to know, whacked together into a simple and convenient pocket sized volume. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Prof Zebedee
Very good!
Very interesting indexes. Not excactly the book to start understanding music (it's too compact), but very good to get an idea of how to explain various music subjects to others. Read more
Published 6 months ago by myrsias
Just too small
This is a beautiful and inspiring book but sadly it is just too small for either the print or the magnificent illustrations to be readable. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Theresa M. Reynolds
An eloquent and illuminating introduction to music
My one reservation is the format . It is an attractive looking book but much of the print is too small to read easily. Read more
Published 13 months ago by D. Cottam
not that good
Book a bit smaller that I expected when it got here
Pictures and descriptions too small to read
Not got a clue what this book is on about! Too complicated. Read more
Pictures and descriptions too small to read
Not got a clue what this book is on about! Too complicated. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Christopher J. Whitehead
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