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Michael Spitzer

The Musical Human: A History of Life on Earth - A BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week'

The Musical Human: A History of Life on Earth - A BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week'

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The Musical Human is a RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK that explores the relationship between music and the human species, from Bach to BTS and back. It provides insights from a wealth of disciplines and world-leading musicologist Michael Spitzer, rendering a global history of music on the widest possible canvas.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 14 April 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC


A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK


Full of delightful nuggets


Guardian online


Entertaining, informative and philosophical ... An essential read


All About History


Extraordinary range ... All the world and more is here


Evening Standard


165 million years ago saw the birth of rhythm.


66 million years ago came the first melody.


40 thousand years ago Homo sapiens created the first musical instrument.


Today music fills our lives.


How we have created, performed and listened to music throughout history has defined what our species is and how we understand who we are.


Yet it is an overlooked part of our origin story.


The Musical Human


takes us on an exhilarating journey across the ages – from Bach to BTS and back – to explore the vibrant relationship between music and the human species.


With insights from a wealth of disciplines, world-leading musicologist Michael Spitzer renders a global history of music on the widest possible canvas, from global history to our everyday lives, from insects to apes, humans to artificial intelligence.


Michael Spitzer has pulled off the impossible: a Guns, Germs and Steel for music


Daniel Levitin


A thrilling exploration of what music has meant and means to humankind


Ian Bostridge

Weight: 332g
Dimension: 130 x 199 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526602787

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