Music: Why It Matters

by Nicholas Cook

As countries went into lockdown in 2020, people turned to music for comfort and solidarity. Neighbours sang to each other from their balconies; people participated in online music sessions that created an experience of socially distanced togetherness. Nicholas Cook argues that the value of music goes far beyond simple enjoyment. Music can enhance well-being, interpersonal relationships, cultural tolerance, and civil cohesion. At the same time, music can be a tool of persuasion or ideology. Thinking about music helps bring into focus the values that are mobilised in today’s culture wars. Making music together builds relationships of interdependence and rather than escapism, it offers a blueprint for a community of mutual obligation and interdependence. Why It Matters  is for anyone who loves playing, listening to, or thinking about music, as well as those pursuing it as a career.

Genres: Music

176 pages, Paperback

Published July 31, 2023

About the author

Nicholas Cook is a British musicologist and writer. In 2009 he became the 1684 Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge, where he is a Fellow of Darwin College. Previously, he was professorial research fellow at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he directed the Arts and Humanities Research Council Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM). He has also taught at the University of Hong Kong, University of Sydney, and University of Southampton, where he served as dean of arts.

He is a former editor of the Journal of the Royal Musical Association and was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2001.

Reviews

[R1CEC4KE · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly gripping read. Witty, concise, and comprehensive depiction of musicological theory, while keeping it topical and relevant to recent and controversial issues (Covid, BLM, Brexit, etc).

It was very interesting to see how his takes on Schenkerian theory changed, especially after hearing Adam Neely talk about effectively the same topic on his YouTube channel - in Cook's case, he was actually invited to write a response to Philip Ewell's case against Schenkerian theory, which offers another perspective to the whole kerfuffle.

Some really cool new(?) Theoretical ideas here which echo other theorists: musical togetherness (see Musicking, Deep Listening) is one of the more provocative for me.