Metaphor and Musical Thought

by Michael Spitzer

"The scholarship of Michael Spitzer's new book is impressive and thorough. The writing is impeccable and the coverage extensive. The book treats the history of the use of metaphor in the field of classical music. It also covers a substantial part of the philosophical literature. The book treats the topic of metaphor in a new and extremely convincing manner."-Lydia Goehr, Columbia University

The experience of music is an abstract and elusive one, enough so that we're often forced to describe it using analogies to other forms and we say that music moves or rises like a physical form; that it contains the imagery of paintings or the grammar of language. In these and countless other ways, our discussions of music take the form of metaphor, attempting to describe music's abstractions by referencing more concrete and familiar experiences.

Michael Spitzer's Metaphor and Musical Thought uses this process to create a unique and insightful history of our relationship with music—the first ever book-length study of musical metaphor in any language. Treating issues of language, aesthetics, semiotics, and cognition, Spitzer offers an evaluation, a comprehensive history, and an original theory of the ways our cultural values have informed the metaphors we use to address music. And as he brings these discussions to bear on specific works of music and follows them through current debates on how music's meaning might be considered, what emerges is a clear and engaging guide to both the philosophy of musical thought and the history of musical analysis, from the seventeenth century to the present day. Spitzer writes engagingly for students of philosophy and aesthetics, as well as for music theorists and historians.

Genres: Music

408 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 2003

Reviews

[Robert Poortinga · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I like many ideas and historical facts which are being presented in the book, I do have to admit that this book is extremely difficult to read, to grasp those ideas you have to read many pages for one idea and the whole point of the 'metaphor and musical thought' is, for me, hardly being discussed in the way a student would be able to really learn about the metaphor and how to imply metaphors to listening or performing music.

Though it was a hard book to read it gave me good ideas and that's the most important thing. I do have to admit that considering reading another book of Mr. Spitzer will need a second thought.

[Nick Bentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illuminating, but extremely academic. Definitely come in with some deep knowledge of music theory and metaphor theory, or else this book will not be fun. Once the form of the book lenses together and the stakes become clear it was enjoyable. Capacious in scope but honestly maddening in syntax. A great sourcebook if nothing else.