The Magic of Tone and the Art of Music

by Dane Rudhyar

At a time when music surrounds us everywhere...and is often mundane and mindless, this book reminds of us the mystery of sound and how sound can transform consciousness. Rudhyard presents a panoramic... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394708873
• ISBN13: 9780394708874
• Release Date: May 1982
• Publisher: Shambhala Publications
• Length: 209 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant Work

For me, Rudhyar eloquently described what for me personally, is the main reason for doing music. His analysis of the progress of musical history away from music as not only an art form, but as a spiritual discipline is intriguing. This interpretation of historical events is unique in that it suggests a degeneracy rather than an ascension toward perfection. What Rudhyar really hit the mark on was the idea of not so much returning to, but developing a musical culture that concentrates not on style, genre, or tradition; but on the psychoactive properties of music. In other words, treating the effects that music has on human beings as paramount importance, and the prime reson for doing music at all. And beyond this, using it as a constructive presence in human society - taking responsibility for the effects that music produces. This idea alone is of immense value to humanity, and should serve as an inspiration to musicians everywhere. If this is all Rudhyar ever accomplished, he would go down in history as one of music's greatest philosophers.

By far the most in-depth book on music I've ever encountered

This book is phenomenal. If you are deeply into music, and are driven to know everything you can about how it relates to the evolution of consciousness, this sadly unheralded tome will send you into raptures. I first found it in December '94 (at the wonderful bookstore Logos in Santa Cruz). I'd heard of Rudhyar through his astrological writings, most of which were far beyond my semi-basic level of understanding on that subject. I started leafing through The Magic of Tone and The Art of Music, intrigued by the title and that an astrologer would be writing a book with this name. I've always been fascinated by the incredible power of music to transport us into vast emotional spaces and other states of being; there's not a human on this planet who doesn't resonate to some form of music or sound, even if just the cooing of mother's voice. While perusing it in the store I realized that this guy was writing about music from a whole 'nother vantage point and that this was the book I'd been seeking for a decade or so. The only problem was the at times incredible intricacy of Rudhyar's thoughts, and the abstruse way in which they are often communicated. It takes some work at times, but is always worth it. Some of the book is just plain tricky to read, and I've slogged my way through some caliche-thick texts over the years. Rudhyar assumes the reader already knows most of the history of music, thought, and art in general. Well, I didn't in '94 and am still lifetimes behind (how did this one fellow learn all this stuff and put it together so uniquely?). Despite that, I can still open this book and read at random for just one page and come away with enough inspiration to make me ponder the next piece of music I hear on an entirely deeper level. And that is a gift beyond measure for one whose existence is sculpted and framed by music. I played music for a living during most of the '90s and this book guided me to the depth of intention that a musician must have to truly move an audience. Rudhyar's basic belief is that the intention of the musician is expressed in every note that is played, and the listeners can only receive that intention on the levels they are ready for and that the collective consciousness of their DNA allows; when musicans and audience are aligned on the highest levels, music can allow us to access the highest states of bliss and oneness with God, the Universe, or whatever you choose to label the Beyond from which we all spring and to which we all return. Thus it is the job and goal of the player to put as much understanding and comprehension and above all love into every note that is played. Not your average acadmeic musical text...and that's but one of the myriad ideas here. Rudhyar brings together his almost cosmically huge knowledge of natural history and mankind's path through it and stretches the reader's mind to new zones almost continuously, showing how connected music, literature, and the visual arts are, and how music can ta