techniques are a shared analytical language throughout the
community of musicians. This is conceptual knowledge and evaluation.

• Composition: either by actively creating our own works, or (more

likely for the beginner), imitating or emulating the works of earlier
composers. This is active knowledge and procedure.

Both of these approaches will evolve as the student acquires more knowledge, skill,
and greater understanding.

How We Perceive Music

At the most primary level, we experience music by five principal distinctive
characteristics.

• Pitch: we perceive the sensation of sound (or tone) as relatively high or

low.

• Duration: we perceive how much time sound (or silence) occupies.
• Timbre: we perceive various qualities or “colors” of sound.
• Intensity: we perceive differences in volume or sound pressure levels.
• Events in time: we perceive pitch collections (events) in the context of

musical space (time).

These broad generalized definitions and concepts serve us well as a departure
point. We can now progress from the general to the specific in our study.

Epigraph

“The man that hath no music in himself,

Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds,

Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.”

- The Merchant of Venice (V, i)

Preface

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