How music and Mathematics Relate (The Great Courses)

by David Kung

dvd information on how math and music relate

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Mathematics, Audiobook, Science

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Mohammed alkindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book served as a bridge between musicians and science and math readers. I enjoyed it very much as it gave me a different perspective of music. I myself not a music listener but now I can relate when people talk about scales and rhythms and beats. To my fascination, I came to realise how our ears are capable of doing Fourier analysis without of much effort to recognise sounds and tunes. When the method was taught in school I which the context of music was brought because I would have grasped it much faster and appreciated more.
Once skill I think I will have hard time to acquire is to recognise tone level and their scales because I think I could help me to change my monotone way of speaking.

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't understand it all, but what I did understand was very interesting. Anyway I would recommend it more to mathematicians who like music rather than musicians who like math, unless of course the world is full of musicians who are mathematically inclined and only I don't know.

Non l'ho capito tutto, ma quello che ho capito era molto interessante, ma lo consiglierei piú ai matematici a cui piace la musica piuttosto che ai musicisti a cui piace la matematica, a meno che ovviamente il mondo non sia pieno di musicisti portati per la matematica e solo io non lo so.

[Cav · Rating 4 out of 5]

This course was a mixed bag for me. On the positive side, Professor David Kung has a decent teaching style, and is clearly excited about the subject matter he presents.
The course covers a broad range of music and mathematical related content; from pitch to the digital coding of music.
On the negative side: I found a lot of the mathematical concepts presented to be rather dry and hard to follow. There were many times during this lecture series that I found my attention wandering, and (in my opinion) Prof Kung went off on some rather long-winded tangents.
I think that I was a bit disappointed with the contents of this course. I was hoping for it to dive into the mathematical relationships inside music, ie; why music *works*. A topic which is most definitely related to mathematics. This course didn't really touch on that at all...
There was a lot of other interesting info presented here, however, and I definitely learned from this course.
It is a fairly technical course, so be aware of that before you start.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

[Don Heiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2013 David Kung Professor at Saint Mary’s College of Maryland released his Teaching Company 12 lecture course “How Music and Mathematics Relate.” The course begins with an overview of music timbre instrument sounds, pitch, and musical scales. He next discusses the musical rhythms, patterns, symmetries, and transformations that developed over a period of three hundred + years. His lectures also show how mathematical structures of geometry, differential equations, calculus, and related logical principles underpin musical composition. He concludes the lectures with a wonderful discussion of digital electronics, and how mathematical science interfaces with musical creativity. I read the 328 page course transcripts and guides to help me better understand the technical features of Prof Kung’s presentations. The transcripts and guidebooks include a bibliography, but they do not have a glossary of terminology or timelines. (P)

[Lenny Husen · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, this needs to be seen visually. There is a DVD course, I assume, as there were many references to demonstrations that were Visual. The accompanying PDF did not cut it as the visual demonstrations were 3 dimensional, for example, creating things like Mobius Strips out of paper to show the students and many other things which I imagine must have helped with this challenging material.
Second, I maybe got 10% of the knowledge that Dr. Kung intended to impart...if I had watched the DVD course, maybe i could have gotten up to 40% of it...but I doubt it. I am simply not intelligent enough to understand math without doing the calculations myself. I need having math explained to me in 1 sentence installments, with long pauses in between, defining each equation and word. I never was able to do proofs without hyperventilating and quitting out of frustration.
So, me too dumb to comprehend dis stuf.
Third, David Kung is truly a genius and a remarkable man...he plays the violin extremely adeptly and pleasingly, he calculates, he speaks with a lisp articulately, he has enthusiasm, his lectures are beautifully organized...so if you are more intelligent and mathematically-brained than I am, this is a fine course for you.

I did love algebra and some Calculus and learned to do basic Trig--and I totally adore Music. I thought this would be a good course and it is...but definitely not for me.

[Sydne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this 6 stars, I would have. This book goes so much deeper into the maths of music than what I thought - Bach, my favourite composer, is very mathematical in his compositions, and I instantly thought of him when I saw this book. I knew he was, and now I know why. And so much more!
Even if I didn't fully follow the mathematical formulas at several points, I understood what they meant and what they created. I made my peace with maths a little bit (we are not friends). What a fantastic book/series of lectures.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 4.2 / 5
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Pretty good overall. The format and breakdown of the book was a little strange, and I think actual paragraphs containing more than just long bullet points might have been better, but I guess that's what the lecture video is for. Learned some interesting facts about mathematics and its role in music here.

[Lamadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting, but some of the principles discussed were difficult to follow when only on audio. It might have been helpful to be able to see the demonstrations and equations he was referring to. It would be better to get the video version of this course.

[Jeff Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I listened to it on Audible as part of their plus catalog. Probably would have been better if I followed along with the accompanying PDF.

The lecturer had a great style. Was informative for me a classical music novice.

[Yuimi Hlasten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I knew music more. 70% of the content went over my head!

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing lecture series!

[Danielle McCoin · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, parts of this were far over my head. This was partially because this recording was meant to include video. I still learned a lot, and will probably listen again.

[Pat Flewwelling]

I think this is a bridge too far for a non-math brain like mine. Interesting, but I lack the foundational knowledge to understand it.

[♏Vanessa♏ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more of a 3/3,5🌟 mainly because I quickly realised I lack the basic knowledge in either subject to fully assimilate all that the lectures had to offer. Don't get me wrong the course is extremely interesting and I greatly enjoyed all the music played in order to give examples, but it was a bit to technical at times to promote easy understanding.
Still, it is well executed but previous, basic knowledge is needed, in my opinion.

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great.

[Levi W. A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give it 66% out of 100%. 📚 🎶

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb lecture series from Great Courses. It's probably most beneficial to anyone who is advanced in at least one of the two fields mentioned so that both don't go over the head.

[Major Doug · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to this book: didn't know enough music or math to make much sense of it; however, the side stories were interesting.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting material about the relationship of math and music

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable set of lectures.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the CD, and I'm looking forward to the dvd in the future...

UPDATE
I watched the DVD, and it was much better seeing what he was describing versus just listening to the description.