Book Reviews

Book Reviews

Review: “Blue Note and Tonality” by Motohiko Hamase

(Original posted on April 9, 2002)This is a rare book that could be described as a "stoic and co...
Book Reviews

The Desire to Understand and Find Meaning: Thoughts on Reading “Ellipse and Skeleton”

(Original posted on June 26, 2000)Although the title doesn't suggest a book about music, this wo...
Book Reviews

Why Classical Music is Classical: Thoughts on Reading “Listen to Classical Music!”

(Original posted on November 25, 1999)This time, I'll focus on "Listen to Classical Music!" by K...
Book Reviews

Composition as a Building Process: Thoughts on Schoenberg’s “Fundamentals of Musical Composition”

(Originally posted on April 8, 2002)The author offers the following advice to beginner composers...
Book Reviews

Review: “The Thematic Process in Music” by Rudolph Réti

(Originally posted on April 9, 2002)As its Japanese subtitle, "The Theme and Construction of Cla...
Book Reviews

Thematic Structure as a Compositional Element: Thoughts on Reading “The Melodic Science of Masterpieces”

(Original posted on April 8, 2002)One could say that a characteristic of "large-scale works," su...
Book Reviews

The Utility and Limits of Imitation: Reflections on “The Wonders of Music”

(Original posted on April 4, 2002)The author, Sadao Bekku, has a very clear way of writing, and ...
Book Reviews

Architecture is Frozen Music (The Structure of Music) – Reflections on ‘The Wonders of Music’

(Originally posted on April 8, 2002)It seems that music has often been discussed in close compar...
Book Reviews

Review: ‘A History of Western Music: The Twilight of “Classicism”‘ by Akeo Okada

(Original posted on November 28, 2008)This is a wonderfully ambitious work. Among music history ...
Book Reviews

Seeking a New Tonal World ~ Reading “Blue Notes and Tonality”

(Original posted on October 22, 1999)Numerous questions regarding the music called "Blues" would...