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Musimathics, Volume 1: The Mathematical Foundations of Music (Mit Press) Reprint Edition

by Gareth Loy (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 81 ratings
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A commonsense, self-contained introduction to the mathematics and physics of music; essential reading for musicians, music engineers, and anyone interested in the intersection of art and science.

“Mathematics can be as effortless as humming a tune, if you know the tune,” writes Gareth Loy. In Musimathics, Loy teaches us the tune, providing a friendly and spirited tour of the mathematics of music—a commonsense, self-contained introduction for the nonspecialist reader. It is designed for musicians who find their art increasingly mediated by technology, and for anyone who is interested in the intersection of art and science.

In Volume 1, Loy presents the materials of music (notes, intervals, and scales); the physical properties of music (frequency, amplitude, duration, and timbre); the perception of music and sound (how we hear); and music composition. Calling himself “a composer seduced into mathematics,” Loy provides answers to foundational questions about the mathematics of music accessibly yet rigorously. The examples given are all practical problems in music and audio.

Additional material can be found at http://www.musimathics.com.

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  1. ISBN-10
    9780262516556
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0262516556
  3. Edition
    Reprint
  4. Publisher
    The MIT Press
  5. Publication date
    August 19, 2011
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    8.6 x 6.7 x 0.9 inches
  8. Print length
    504 pages
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gareth Loy is a musician and award-winning composer. He has published widely and, during a long and successful career at the cutting edge of multimedia computing, has worked as a researcher, lecturer, programmer, software architect, and digital systems engineer. He is President of Gareth, Inc., a provider of software engineering and consulting services internationally.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0262516551
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The MIT Press; Reprint edition (August 19, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 504 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780262516556
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0262516556
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 12 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.65 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.6 x 6.7 x 0.9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 81 ratings

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4.7 out of 5 stars
81 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book interesting and appreciate its clarity, with one review noting how the physical meaning of the math is always explained. Moreover, the music theory content makes many aspects of music understandable, and one customer describes it as a Bible for sound engineers. Additionally, the book receives positive feedback for its art content, with one review highlighting its superior figures for visual learners.

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8 customers mention "Interest"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very interesting and neat, with one customer describing it as an excellent treatise on the subject.

"This is a delightful survey of the physical and psychophysical bases of music and their connections to conventional musical concepts...." Read more

"...I've read a bit of the book myself and there's a lot of really interesting and cool information in this book...." Read more

"...the different keys and scales so this was tough for me, but also very interesting." Read more

"Incredible. Just incredible. The heart and dedication put into these 2 volumes... just unimaginable." Read more

5 customers mention "Clarity"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book clear and well-explained, with one customer noting that the physical meaning of the math is always clearly presented, while another appreciates the detailed information on different scales.

"...It is highly readable and insightful. Yes, there is plenty of mathematics, but the musical and physical meaning of the math is always clearly..." Read more

"...It has the best explanation I have seen from any book. There are other useful chapter as well on the physic of sound...." Read more

"...There is also quite a lot of information on different scales and changes in the frequency of notes through history...." Read more

"...I wish I had received a copy of this years ago, it brought clarity to that which others could not explain and filled in gaps in the theory,Gareth..." Read more

5 customers mention "Music theory"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the music theory in the book, finding that many aspects of music make sense, with one customer noting its usefulness for sound engineers and another highlighting its chapter on the physics of sound.

"This is a delightful survey of the physical and psychophysical bases of music and their connections to conventional musical concepts...." Read more

"...There are other useful chapter as well on the physic of sound...." Read more

"...about it all the time and they keep mentioning how so many things in music makes sense...." Read more

"...Well organized for those who prefer order. Recommended for all audio engineers, composers, musicians you will not realize how critical this is until..." Read more

4 customers mention "Art content"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the art content of the book, with one noting its superior figures for visual learners.

"...The superior figures for visual learners to understand the complexities of music and math in this place of shared frequency...." Read more

"...mathematics and music the ideas in these two volumes are just beautiful to fathom...." Read more

"...The authors approach is excellent and the books are works of art." Read more

"An Incredible Work of Art on the Science of Sound and Music..." Read more

An Incredible Work of Art on the Science of Sound and Music
5 out of 5 stars
An Incredible Work of Art on the Science of Sound and Music
Incredible. Just incredible. The heart and dedication put into these 2 volumes... just unimaginable.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • OomPahPah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a clear fundamental explanation of music at a non-trivial level
    Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a delightful survey of the physical and psychophysical bases of music and their connections to conventional musical concepts. It is highly readable and insightful. Yes, there is plenty of mathematics, but the musical and physical meaning of the math is always clearly explained, often in novel ways. This volume (and its successor Vol 2) should be on the bookshelf of anyone who seeks a deep understanding of what makes sound into music.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • NO
    5.0 out of 5 stars The reason I bought the books was because of it's explanation of the Markov chain.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The reason I bought the books was because of it's explanation of the Markov chain as applied to melody. It has the best explanation I have seen from any book. There are other useful chapter as well on the physic of sound. Any true musician should understand the history of temperament and this book cuts through the BS.
    Helpful
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  • Emma
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Really Cool Book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book for someone close to me and they absolutely love it! They talk about it all the time and they keep mentioning how so many things in music makes sense. I've read a bit of the book myself and there's a lot of really interesting and cool information in this book. You don't have to be a total expert to understand the content in this book. In fact, I had to buy the second volume to find out what else we could learn. I would really recommend this book to someone who loves music and wants to know the workings behind it. In conclusion, this is a really neat book with a LOT of interesting information!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • David Lynch
    4.0 out of 5 stars Math and music
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I have always wondered about the differences between a note played on different instruments, and how this affects the sound wave, and this book explained this well. I am a computer geek considering a programming project involving music. This book gave me the background I was looking form, but does not cover any of the programming aspects of real time midi input and sound output.

    There is quite a bit of math and physics in the book and I did skip quite a bit of it.
    There is also quite a lot of information on different scales and changes in the frequency of notes through history.
    I took piano lessons as a kid, but don't have a good understanding of the different keys and scales so this was tough for me, but also very interesting.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Vonna Wolf
    5.0 out of 5 stars Critical! Musimathics is a Bible for sound engineers and music programers.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Critical! Musimathics is a Bible for sound engineers, musicians, instructors or art/science and music programers. I wish I had received a copy of this years ago, it brought clarity to that which others could not explain and filled in gaps in the theory,Gareth Loy provides a systematic love affair between science and art. The superior figures for visual learners to understand the complexities of music and math in this place of shared frequency.Well organized for those who prefer order. Recommended for all audio engineers, composers, musicians you will not realize how critical this is until you own it. I recommend a physical copy, love it, mark it up!
    5 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Wei Kai Tsai
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Incredible Work of Art on the Science of Sound and Music
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Incredible. Just incredible.

    The heart and dedication put into these 2 volumes... just unimaginable.
    Customer image
    Wei Kai Tsai
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    An Incredible Work of Art on the Science of Sound and Music

    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2022
    Incredible. Just incredible.

    The heart and dedication put into these 2 volumes... just unimaginable.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Helpful
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  • Clebert
    5.0 out of 5 stars Like a bible!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This is like a bible... you can never finish reading the book.

    If you put yourself in the shoes of who wrote the book, you will realize that the book is really worth it.

    It's an intense book, takes time to digest it, so be prepared to be scratching your head a lot.

    Especially if you plan to buy the 2nd volume.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Douglas Cameron
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truly inspiring
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    If you enjoy mathematics and music the ideas in these two volumes are just beautiful to fathom. Gareth made me realize that mathematics and music are not separate fields - although that is the cultural bias we have. Math and music can be two sides of the same topic - musimathics. I expect these two volumes will inspire me for the rest of my life.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • jllar
    5.0 out of 5 stars très bonnes bases
    Reviewed in France on June 7, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Reprend beaucoup de bases d'acoustique générale, architecturale et musicale qui se trouvent dans d'autres livres, mais en les développant, ou en les démontrant. Ce qui est très intéressant, ce sont les éléments de programmation inclus. Je vais acheter le tome 2, dès que j'aurai fini celui-ci.
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  • qirong29
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great thick pleasant book to read
    Reviewed in Australia on September 27, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is a serious book on the mathematical foundation of music, but despite almost 500 pages, it is actually written in an easy style. I have only just recently got this book, and have not quite read it through yet, but I find it pleasant reading. It covers broad grounds, explains topics in clear and straight-forward terms, and is sufficiently grounded in maths that is comprehensible to most school leavers. It is a great reference book to keep, especially to lovers of music and its relationship to maths.
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  • hansi
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read for the mathematically inclined
    Reviewed in Germany on January 8, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I love this book for not messing around. Using mathematics allows Loy to formulate music theory and acoustics in a very concise way. As a student of mathematics I can't judge the difficulty, but it should be understandable for almost everybody (lots fractions, solving simple equations and a bit of differentiation is almost all that's needed). The range of topics covered in the two books together is breath taking. I'm currently half way through the first book and read it whenever I have a free minute, it's a great read!
    Report
  • Music
    2.0 out of 5 stars Aporta poco y tiene bastantes errores.
    Reviewed in Spain on February 14, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Hay libros con un planteamiento mucho mejor, por más profundo, o por más didáctico. Y lo que son inaceptables, son los numerosos errores de física en conceptos o fórmulas. Defraudado.
    Report
  • michel chouinard
    5.0 out of 5 stars My son like it
    Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    My son like it
    Report