The Science of Music is an overview of the various techniques and results of musical research, both from the past and today, and is meant to give a general perspective of how music is constructed and created. It is intended to be a reader that is interested in more than just music theory, and will offer an interpretation of the various studies it covers. In this way, it is also a book in progress as the various methods of analysis are gradually introduced and discussed. It is therefore a rewarding read as the reader will be gradually introduced to a world that is still very much in its infancy as a science. Although more material is expected to be added to the existing volumes that have been written on the subject so far, what has been presented here so far can at least be seen as a glimpse into the emerging field of studies that attempts to reveal the deeper aspects and theories of this creative art.
Part one of the Science of Music deals with introducing the essential concepts of music theory, such as tonal units of melody and harmony, voice and pitch, dynamics, pitch class, melodic patterns and modes, combinatorics, and chromatic scales. The second chapter focuses on musical moods, which is essential for a greater understanding of expressive language and music styles. Musical analogies and polyphonic scales are also discussed in some detail, while the third chapter traces the evolution of tonal concepts through Western and Southeastern music. The fourth chapter looks at how different styles and genres connect through time, while lessons on voice and pitch organization are given in the next chapter.
Subsequent chapters look at issues related to gender, race, age, music taste and preference, music genres and dance, musical conventions, and popular music history. In addition, the final chapter looks at issues of legal copyright, synchronization, and synchronization licensing. The Science of Music contains close to eighty pages of black and white text, and a glossary is included. A list of resources is included, with suggested readings for further reading. The book is lightly organized with index, bibliography, and table of contents. The publisher, Oxford University Press, offers this book as a paperback, hardcover, and e-reader.