Musical Understandings presents an engaging collection of essays on the philosophy of music, written by Stephen Davies--one of the most distinguished philosophers in the field. He explores a range of topics in the philosophy of music, including how music expresses emotion and what is distinctive to the listener's response to this expressiveness; the modes of perception and understanding that can be expected of skilled listeners, performers, analysts, and composers and the various manners in which these understandings can be manifest; the manner in which musical works exist and their relation to their instances or performances; and musical profundity. As well as reviewing the work of philosophers of music, a number of the chapters both draw on and critically reflect on current work by psychologists concerning music. The collection includes new material, a number of adapted articles which allow for a more comprehensive, unified treatment of the issues at stake, and work published in English for the first time.

About the Author
Stephen Davies teaches philosophy at the University of Auckland. He writes mainly about aesthetics and the philosophy of art, and has written extensively on the definition of art, the ontological character of artworks, cross-cultural aesthetics, the expression of emotion in art, and the interpretation and evaluation of art. His books include Musical Works and Performances (Clarendon, 2001), Themes in the Philosophy of Music (OUP, 2003), The Philosophy of Art (Blackwell, 2006), and Philosophical Perspectives on Art (OUP, 2007).

Reviews
[H]is writing is lucid and accessible, while never sacrificing precision; his handling of the subject is based on an intimate knowledge of the history and technicalities of music that exhibits an intimidating breadth and depth; and, while being steeped in the tradition of Western classical music, Davies also has an eye on popular music and some non-Western musical practices that lends a much needed cultural sensitivity to his treatment of the philosophical problems. Musical Understandings offers the same accessibility, knowledge, and sensitivity that many in the field have come to expect and admire. * Christopher Bartel, Mind *
The virtues for which Stephen Davies' writings on the philosophy of music are well-known - his clarity of thought and comprehensiveness of scholarship, his engagement with the psychological as well as the philosophical literature, his grasp of musicological scholarship, and his familiarity with some forms of non-Western music - are all evident in this volume. Together, they make this volume a very desirable one for senior undergraduate or graduate students who want to know the current state of philosophical debate on the issues covered. * Paul Thom, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
a diverse and stimulating collection of essays. * John Shand, Times Higher Education *
The collection does not fail to impress in its attention to detail and variety of music. It is this detail that also offers the greatest rewards of reading Daviess collection. * Hanne Appelqvist, Philosophy in Review, *
Musical Understandings is a book worth reading for all interested in musical aesthetics. Both admirers and critics of Daviess earlier work will find new things here, * Saam Trivedi, Analysis *
the collection does not fail to impress in its attention to detail and variety of music. It is this detail that also offers the greatest rewards of reading Daviess collection * Hanne Appelqvist, Philosophy in Review XXXIII *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199608775
Author Stephen Davies
Format Hardback
Page Count 228
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 506g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 163mm * 25mm