The Acoustical Foundations of Music

By John Backus

Book Overview

The original purpose of Professor Backus's book was to collect and organize the scattered results of research, past and present, in the areas of scientific knowledge that are relevant to music: the physiological properties of sounds; the effect of acoustical environment; the acoustical behavior of musical instruments; and the various applications of electronics and computers to the production, reproduction, and composition of music. The aims and organization of the second edition remain the same; the results are more complete and up-to-date.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393090965
• ISBN13: 9780393090963
• Release Date: November 1977
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Great introductory textbook for college students on acoustic

Dr. Backus is a professor of physics but also a pianist and has a deep appreciation of both the intricacies of physics and the relationship of physical phenomena to musical instruments. This is a superb text for college music majors or physics majors although the latter would be disappointed by the lack of equations and obvious attempts to suit the book to music majors. I am a semi professional musician and found that this text satisfied much of my perpetual inquisitiveness about acustical instruments and how they work.