''Mathematics can be as effortless as humming a tune,
if you know the tune,'' writes Gareth Loy. In
Musimathics, Loy teaches us the tune, providing a
friendly and spirited tour of the mathematics of
music--a commonsense, self-contained introduction for
the nonspecialist reader. It is designed for musicians
who find their art increasingly mediated by technology,
and for anyone who is interested in the intersection of
art and science.In this volume, Loy presents the
materials of music (notes, intervals, and scales); the
physical properties of music (frequency, amplitude,
duration, and timbre); the perception of music and sound
(how we hear); and music composition. Musimathics is
carefully structured so that new topics depend strictly
on topics already presented, carrying the reader
progressively from basic subjects to more advanced ones.
Cross-references point to related topics and an
extensive glossary defines commonly used terms. The book
explains the mathematics and physics of music for the
reader whose mathematics may not have gone beyond the
early undergraduate level.Calling himself ''a composer
seduced into mathematics,'' Loy provides answers to
foundational questions about the mathematics of music
accessibly yet rigorously. The topics are all subjects
that contemporary composers, musicians, and musical
engineers have found to be important. The examples given
are all practical problems in music and audio. The level
of scholarship and the pedagogical approach also make
Musimathics ideal for classroom use. Additional material
can be found at a companion web site. |
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