The Uses of Music

New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1974. First Edition. Octavo (23cm); pale green cloth, pebble grain, spine titles stamped in black, in color pictorial dustwrapper; vii, 258pp. Dustwrapper mildly toned, with light shelf wear and soiling , creasing and rubbing to extremities; chips to crown of spine and top rear edge, with some material loss. Textblock slightly yellowing along edges and margins, else clear and sound. Near Fine in Very Good wrappers.

In this academic text, Joseph Mussulman (Professor of Music at the University of Montana) explores the different contexts in which humans listen to, create, and judge different kinds of music. In particular, (truncated) he compares so-called "art music" with other forms not explicitly created for pure contemplation of the art. This book was originally accompanied by three LP records with musical excerpts to be used for listening exercises. These LPs are not included with this book, but it does have a complete bibliographical track listing so students may still follow along at home (or make the attempt). (Inventory #: 47741)