From the very beginning, music has helped us create our world – everything from language, to technology, to philosophy and religion. The Art of Ancient Music discusses the important role music has played in shaping human development. While emphasizing shared human themes, the text has a special focus on the rise of Western music in the ancient Near East, the Bible, and the Classical worlds. A final chapter provides a discussion of the way music helped bridge the gap between the ancient world and the Middle Ages, especially in the guise of Church music.

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The book's chief strength lies in its almost sociological approach; the author emphasizes culture, material culture especially, as a determinant of musical style and substance.

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Interdisciplinary scholarship is critically important work, yet fraught with peril. That David Leinweber recognizes the significance of interdisciplinary scholarship is laudable, and the casual reader will find much of interest in this book.