Why We Love Music

audiobook

Why We Love Music

by Carl E. (Carl Emil) Seashore

EN·~3 hours·10 chapters

Chapters

10 total
1

The few minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation.

0:47
2

PREFACE

4:10
3

Chapter IWHY DO WE LOVE MUSIC?

24:24
4

Chapter IIMUSIC BEFORE THE AGE OF SIX

19:58
5

Chapter IIIMUSIC BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX AND TEN

18:01
6

Chapter IVMUSIC AND YOUTH

26:36
7

Chapter VTHE MUSICAL TEMPERAMENT

19:39
8

Chapter VIMUSICAL INHERITANCE

27:14
9

Chapter VIITHE FUTURE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

26:19
10

CHAPTER VIIIPRAISE AND BLAME IN MUSIC

19:52

Description

This work tackles one of the most enduring puzzles of human experience: why music moves us so deeply. Drawing on decades of psychological research, the author weaves together laboratory findings, anecdotal observations, and thoughtful speculation to outline the mental and emotional mechanisms that make melody and rhythm irresistible. The tone remains conversational, inviting listeners to follow the reasoning without demanding specialized knowledge.

The chapters trace music’s impact from early childhood, when sound first intertwines with language and play, through the formative years of school and adolescence, and into adulthood’s more nuanced aesthetic judgments. Topics such as innate musical temperament, the role of family and education, and even the future evolution of instruments are explored, each anchored in concrete examples and clear explanations. Readers are encouraged to consider how their own musical preferences may reflect broader psychological patterns.

Overall, the book offers a balanced blend of scientific insight and accessible narrative, prompting listeners to reflect on the personal and universal reasons we all seem to love music.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~3 hours (179K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Original publisher

United States: Oliver Ditson Co., 1941.

Credits

Guus Snijders, Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)

Release date

2021-11-30

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Carl E. (Carl Emil) Seashore

Carl E. (Carl Emil) Seashore

1866–1949

A pioneering psychologist and educator, he helped shape the study of musical talent and spent decades building graduate education at the University of Iowa. His work connected science, art, and learning in ways that still feel fresh.

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