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Sounding Off

Eleven Essays in the Philosophy of Music

Peter Kivy author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:28th Jun '12

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Sounding Off cover

Sounding Off brings together a selection of essays on philosophy of music written by Peter Kivy--the leading expert on the subject. The essays fall into four groups, corresponding to Kivy's major interests. Part I contains two essays on the nature of musical genius. In Part II, three essays take up the subject of authenticity in performance, and explore what Kivy terms 'the authenticity of interpretation'. Part III contains four essays concerning the much discussed issues of musical representation and musical meaning. Finally, Part IV consists of three essays on the 'pure musical parameters': these are essays on 'music alone' or 'absolute music'--music as the pure, formal structure of (sometimes) expressive sound. Eight of the eleven essays presented here are previously unpublished, and the book includes two appendices which provide Kivy's responses to criticism.

... offering a tour de force of impeccably clear and well-pondered argumentation. The book's straightforward, sparkling and, at times, colloquial style (so typical of Kivy) makes it an accessible and highly rewarding read for a whole range of readers. It offers some significant critical insight into scientific research on music, including a detailed discussion of some recent claims made in psychology and musicology. * Jan Czarnecki, Universa *
Sounding Off contains much of significant interest. Familiar Kivyan projects are further developed and elucidated here and reward study, but the essays that break new ground are often provocative, important, and worthy of a substantial readership. * Brandon Cooke, The Philosophical Quarterly *

ISBN: 9780199697526

Dimensions: 222mm x 149mm x 23mm

Weight: 520g

312 pages