The Musical Life: Reflections on What It Is and How to Live It, Paperback/W. a. Mathieu

Being musical does not necessarily mean being a musician; it doesn't mean playing the piano at parties or composing songs for lovers. It is a way of being awake, an angle of perception, a tilt of the ear. The musical ear knows it is innately in tune with the universe. A person can talk or move musically, or simply be harmonious, without being a fine violinist. You do not need a musician's craft to know that both you and music are made from the same design. - From the preface About the Author: William Allaudin Mathieu is a composer pianist whose long and varied career ranges from his early work with the Stan Kenton band and The Second City Theater, to his extensive catalogue of song cycles, works for choir, and instrumental concert music. He has recorded extensively, and is the author of The Listening Book , The Musical Life , and Harmonic Experience: Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origin to Its Modern Expression .