THE TUNING OF THE WORLD

by R. Murray Schafer ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1977

The modern architect is designing for the deaf. His ears are stuffed with bacon."" That is the pragmatic point that composer-researcher Schafer ultimately reaches--along with directives for corrective acoustic designs, the ""soniferous gardens"" of the future. Leading up to this call-to-ears is a maze of history, geography, sociology, and science--all examined from a passionately sonic stance and all drenched in literary allusions. Schafer begins by extolling the ""hi-fi"" soundscapes we've obliterated: the ""keynotes"" of sea, wind, birds, insects, and wood against stone; the clear punctuation of church bells, the hunt, post horns, and farmyard accents. In contrast: the industrio-electronic revolution's ""lo-fi"" smear of sound, with the keynote of the internal combusion engine. To deal with this ""slovenly and imperiled"" sonic state of things, Schafer explores the various methods for measuring and classifying sounds (an orgy of charts), the symbolic weight of sounds (""the deviousness of the wind""), and the inadequacy of civic noise legislation (""clairaudience, not ear muffs""). The reliance on jargon and political analogy (""sound imperialism"") will alienate many readers; others will be put off by Schafer's quotation of French without translation and reference to the Alberti bass without elucidation; all should be cautious of his use (however entertaining) of 19th-century novelists as ""ear witnesses""--the psychological contexts are ignored. Still, Schafer is often eloquent, and fascinating data--noise complaints heard 'round the world, multilingual onomatopoeia--surfaces and delights. No one would argue with ""We need to regain quietude,"" and anyone diligent enough to persevere through The Tuning of the World will be listening differently, more carefully, and probably more angrily, in the forehearable future.

Pub Date: April 1, 1977

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1977

Categories: NONFICTION