The Secret Power of Music: The Transformation of Self and Society through Musical Energy

I applaud the author's critique of music's power. What a formidable task.I am giving the author five stars for simply raising questions that have needed to be raised and explored in more depth by our society. Music is an emotional medium, in other words, music affects us emotionally -- and does this much more than the populace realizes.Having been a music therapist all of my life I have seen first hand how music can wreck havoc on one's emotions -- and on the other hand -- can facilitate peace, calm, and healing. It is dependent on the kind of music you are listening to. Yes, music IS affecting each of us whether we are aware it is happening or not.I believe music is right up the with appropriate diet and food. Just like we need to take seriously our nutritional choices, we ABSOLUTELY need to monitor our musical ones.Bottom line, do read the book. It is a good starting point.

Gets to the core of the truth about Contemporary unchristian Music. If there's an ounce of discernment in you, by the time you're done with this book, you'll know exactly what to look for and what to rid yourself of!

This is reading for the musicologist as well as for the psychologist. A great volume for the serious student of the place of music in our lives.

He calificado cinco estrellas a este producto debido a que me llegó en buenas condiciones sin ningún tipo de novedad al respecto y han cumplido con mis expectativas por eso lo recomendaria a familiares, amigos etc. Gracias

This wonderful book explores "The Secret Power of Music" (by David Tame) throughout history. The subtitle, "The transformation of self and society through musical energy" gives us a clue as to the author's comprehensive evaluation of music. Surprisingly, he combines both scientific theory along with mystical or esoteric factors in the development of music through the ages. I also learned how certain types of music may also influence a person's physical and mental health. This combination of scientific research and esoteric factors makes this a very unique approach to the study of music.This volume covers music and its power, the ancient wisdom: music in China, the Twentieth Century-the new music, assessment of music, man and society, the ancient wisdom: music in India, Jazz and Blues-their nature and origin, the physics of the OM, and the ancient wisdom revisited: the modern esoteric viewpoint.In conclusion, if you are a music major or someone passionately in love with music, you should check out this book. Personally, this book was a very informative read, even if I am not in anyway a musician even though I do love classical music, Jazz and other forms of music.Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Haiku Moments: How to read, write and enjoy haiku)

Great book, will show you about the ancient science behind music

very profound and real, Thanks for selling this book.

The intention of this book is in the right place. It's a wake-up call to society on the destructive effects of modern music, and conversely, the healing power of the more traditional forms.The author discusses 20TH Century classical music (the "New Music"), jazz & rock, Indian, and Chinese music, and discusses the physiological effects of music. His discussion about Chinese and Indian music is fascinating, and he seems fairly objective here (not in being strictly factual (he includes the oriental theories and myths in the material), but rather that he is able to discuss this music without passing esthetic judgement.)His discussion of the "New Music" and Rock/Jazz is much too one-sided. I totally agree with him that early jazz (the blues) and rock are particulary destructive (stand back and examine the lyrics to most songs... I rest my case.) I would also agree with the author that the atonality of most 20TH century "classical" music, not being rooted in the physics of the harmonic series, is also very destructive. (As he points out, this music is so universally disliked that in practice it's not so destructive -- because few people listen to it.)However, there are several inaccuracies in his critique of 20TH century art forms, and he argues his case with the fanaticism ......... that I find most unattractive. He is also quite fond of circular reasoning.As one example, he criticizes composer Steve Reich for having imitated the rythmns of african drumming in his music, claiming that Reich is somehow re-enacting barbaric voodoo rituals in his music. Yes, it's true that Reich's inspiration comes his study of African drumming, but to claim that Reich is consciously (or unconsciously for that matter) attempting to create music suitable for voodoo is absolutely ridiculus. (For one thing, drumming is part of all African ritual, both voodoo and more constructive uses.) In his section on rock, he compares the incessant drumbeat to a shaman's ritual, and notes that rock drummers can sometimes move into a trance state during their performances. Yet, that's the whole point of shamanic drumming (the trance), and that's part of the healing, not the destructive, power of the drum.He spends a page deriding Wendy Carlos' "Switched on Bach" recordings, yet for that whole page, he never really explained what made them bad, except that they were synthesized (so that makes them bad?) and that they made a lot of money. His scathing criticisms about the use of computers to compose or teach music are really unfair and miss the point entirely. Computer composition in the 70's were really about AI experimentation - I'm sure nobody thought that computers would actually compete with a human composer!His main complaint about Jazz is it's over-sesuality. I would agree with him here, after re-listening to some of my (instrumental) jazz recordings. Yet so is the Isolde Liebestod from Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde", yet he holds Wagner's music in high esteem. (as well he should :-) For some people, sensuous jazz would be healing. For others it is unbalancing. Yet the author seems unable or unwilling to provide a more moderate view of music.

Very very descriptive of all ages of music

I think it is vital that any reader of this book should be aware of the religious leanings of this writer as it colours his judgement and prejudices his attitude to all forms of music bar those he approves of ‘spiritually’.The chapters on Music in China and India were interesting however I would say the chapter on Jazz and the Blues came terrifyingly close to being out and out racist. Tame dismisses this music as having Voodoo roots and therefore of evil intent. He makes no attempt to even come close to understanding the spiritual aspects of this form of religious ceremony and focuses on what he sees as the lewd sexuality of the rhythms and vocals.Shockingly ignorant and dangerously prejudiced.In fact he writes so many asides throughout the book, criticising all forms of music he perceives as not being composed for the ‘greater good’ and also alluding to tragically early deaths or illnesses and addictions being related to playing these types of music that I begun to feel that this book was more interesting as a study of how someone with extreme religious views can limit rather than expand the possibilities of the secret power of music.