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Richard Ehrlich: Face the Music
Can one capture, in photographic portraiture, the intense inner depth of emotion experienced while listening to music of one's choice? In 1872 Darwin published his seminal treatise The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals which intersected with the dawn of photography. While the study of physiognomy has limited scientific validity, it nevertheless provides the impetus for linking portraiture and emotion. If -the face is the window to one's soul, - capturing the rhapsody of emotion through facial expression provides a unique window into each artist's inner being.
In this book, 40 legendary musicians from a range of genres--including Quincy Jones, Ringo Starr, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, Wayne Shorter, Iggy Pop, Esperanza Spalding, Herb Alpert, Sir Graham Nash, Philip Glass, Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Emmylou Harris--were photographed while listening to three pieces of music of their choice. (With only two exceptions, they chose the music of other musicians rather than their own.) Music, painting and photography--indeed all art forms--share a common nexus for experiencing feeling, and are inextricably linked in contextualizing human emotion. Face the Music helps redefine the profound and transcendent influence music has on human emotion.
In this book, 40 legendary musicians from a range of genres--including Quincy Jones, Ringo Starr, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, Wayne Shorter, Iggy Pop, Esperanza Spalding, Herb Alpert, Sir Graham Nash, Philip Glass, Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Emmylou Harris--were photographed while listening to three pieces of music of their choice. (With only two exceptions, they chose the music of other musicians rather than their own.) Music, painting and photography--indeed all art forms--share a common nexus for experiencing feeling, and are inextricably linked in contextualizing human emotion. Face the Music helps redefine the profound and transcendent influence music has on human emotion.
- GenresMusic
172 pages, Hardcover
Published November 22, 2016
12 people want to read
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December 6, 2025
Face the Music is a visually striking and emotionally resonant exploration of what happens when legendary musicians let their guard down and simply listen. Richard Ehrlich’s photographic vision captures something rarely seen: the unfiltered inner landscape of artists as they absorb music that moves them. With appearances by Quincy Jones, Ringo Starr, Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, Iggy Pop, Emmylou Harris, Philip Glass, and more, every portrait feels like a private moment offered to the viewer.
Joel Selvin’s accompanying text adds depth, while Manfred Heiting’s editorial shaping gives the collection coherence and artistic balance. The project’s inspiration Darwin’s 1872 work on emotional expression adds a fascinating historical thread, blending science, art, and human feeling.
This is not just a photography book; it’s a celebration of how music travels through the body and reveals itself on the face. Elegant, intimate, and beautifully executed, Face the Music reminds us that listening is an art form of its own.
Joel Selvin’s accompanying text adds depth, while Manfred Heiting’s editorial shaping gives the collection coherence and artistic balance. The project’s inspiration Darwin’s 1872 work on emotional expression adds a fascinating historical thread, blending science, art, and human feeling.
This is not just a photography book; it’s a celebration of how music travels through the body and reveals itself on the face. Elegant, intimate, and beautifully executed, Face the Music reminds us that listening is an art form of its own.
Displaying 1 of 1 review