Mathematics and music

Wright (mathematics, Washington U., St. Louis), an arranger and composer of vocal music who teaches a course on math and music, examines the interrelationship and commonalties between the two subjects. He pairs music and math concepts such as scales and modular arithmetic, octave identification and equivalence relation, intervals and logarithms, equal temperament and exponents, overtones and integers, tone and trigonometry, and tuning and rationality. The book is meant for use in freshman-level courses for musically or mathematically inclined students. Basic high school knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, functions, and graphs, and exposure to musical staffs, clefs, and key signatures is assumed, although these concepts are explained. Creating music using math is not discussed. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)