
The Music between Us
Is Music a Universal Language?
Kathleen Marie Higgins(Author)
University of Chicago Press
Published on 8. May 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
296 pages
978-0-226-14285-2 (ISBN)
Description
From our first social bonding as infants to the funeral rites that mark our passing, music plays an important role in our lives, bringing us closer to one another. In The Music between Us, philosopher Kathleen Marie Higgins investigates this role, examining the features of human perception that enable music's uncanny ability to provoke, despite its myriad forms across continents and throughout centuries, the sense of a shared human experience. Drawing on disciplines such as philosophy, psychology, musicology, linguistics, and anthropology, Higgins' richly researched study showcases the ways music is used in rituals, education, work, healing, and as a source of security and - perhaps most importantly - joy. By participating so integrally in such meaningful facets of society, Higgins argues, music situates itself as one of the most fundamental bridges between people, a truly cross-cultural form of communication that can create solidarity across political divides. Moving beyond the well-worn takes on music's universality, The Music between Us provides a new understanding of what it means to be musical and, in turn, human.
Reviews / Votes
"Higgins has written a wonderfully comprehensive book about nothing less than to what extent music is a universal phenomenon.... The author contends that though there appears to be dramatic variation across cultures, music universally reflects humans' common ways of behaving-for instance, in connection with longing and mourning-and serves to physically instruct one on how to comport oneself in society.... A welcome contribution to cross-cultural (and cross-species) philosophy of music.... Highly recommended." (Choice)"More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Chicago
United States
Publishing group
The University of Chicago Press
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 23 mm
Width: 15 mm
Thickness: 2 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-226-14285-2 (9780226142852)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
03/2020
University of Chicago Press
€18.18
Available for download
Person
Kathleen Marie Higgins is professor of philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. She is the author of The Music of Our Lives and Nietzsche's "Zarathustra."