The Spheres of Music

Leonard B. Meyer's writings on the theory, history, perception and aesthetics of music have inspired and provoked generations of readers. This book makes available a selection of his essays originally published between 1974 and 1998. Gathering them together in one volume not only enables the essays to "converse" with and illuminate each other, but also allows Meyer to revise, recant and comment on the ideas they present. The text joins music theory to history, history to culture, culture to aesthetics, aesthetics to psychology and psychology back to theory. In so doing, it highlights the complex interrelationships at the heart of the creation, comprehension and history of music.