Musings on Music Bk2

Following Book 1, which is a largely personal account of the authors experiences as musician and composer, this, Book 2, taking a more objective stance, contains essays, articles, on musical activity in the wider world. Several were previously published, in periodicals, and as a contribution to a book. Hence these idiosyncratic musings jump about somewhat, con-joining various aspects of 'life, the universe and everything' with notions on the being of music, internally and externally. Some chapters are more pointedly focussed, with specific goals, which certainly applies to some historical essays. And there I make use of a Jungian model of flows in the psyche, which I found highly appropriate to track musical movements, paralleling composers' mind flows. There are thoughts on possible futures for the arts, sonic healing, a readable exposition of the Jungian model, using that in a view of Western music history, archaeology of sounds, a deep view of Indian song, an examination of the interrelations of the characters in 'The Magic Flute' and a history of music at The Bauhaus. A heterodox collection, to be sure, but something there for a wide appreciation of matters musical.