How Music Works: A listener's guide to harmony, keys, broken chords, perfect pitch and the secrets of...

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John Powell

How Music Works

A listener's guide to harmony, keys, broken chords, perfect pitch and the secrets of a good...

John Powell

$32.99

Paperback

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English

Particular Books
12 October 2010

Music; Theory of music & musicology; Popular science

Discover the secrets of how music works in this straight-talking, funny account of its nuts and bolts (or notes and instruments)

Have you ever listened to an incredible piece of music and wondered exactly why it makes you want to dance or cry? Are you mystified by how musicians just 'know' what notes to play next when they're improvising? Or why certain notes sound great together and others clash?

Discover the answers in this ear-opening tour of how music works. John Powell, a classically-trained composer and a physics professor, decided to write this entertaining, pain-free guide to the ingredients of music when he discovered that all the other books on the subject gave him a headache. Here he reveals the often little-known facts and fascinating science behind what we listen to, explaining the basics of harmony, scales, chords, keys and rhythm in a way that's easy for everyone to understand.

He also shows us why a note has a different sound to a normal noise, why Chinese people are more likely to have perfect pitch, and even why Beethoven and Led Zeppelin are musically similar.

This book reveals things that people who play music should know but often don't, and will help all of us - even if we can't read a note - increase our listening pleasure.

By: John Powell
Imprint: Particular Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 135mm, Spine: 20mm
Weight: 272g
ISBN: 9781846143151
ISBN 10: 1846143152
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 12 October 2010
Recommended Age: From 0 years
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

John Powell holds a PhD in Physics from Imperial College, London and a Masters' Degree in Music Composition from Sheffield University. He divides his time between scientific research, running a laser firm and composing music, and is a Visiting Professor of Materials Science (specialising in laser research) at The University of Nottingham (UK) and The University of Lulea (Sweden).

Reviews for How Music Works: A listener's guide to harmony, keys, broken chords, perfect pitch and the secrets of a good tune

Thoroughly accessible, and occasionally revelatory ... It's hard to imagine how Powell could have done a better job Spectator

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How Music Works

A listener's guide to harmony, keys, broken chords, perfect pitch and the secrets of a good...

John Powell

$32.99

Paperback

Reviews for How Music Works: A listener's guide to harmony, keys, broken chords, perfect pitch and the secrets of a good tune

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