The musical ear

by Anne Dhu McLucas

This book provides a wide-ranging look at the role played by music that is passed on orally without the use of notation, in the folk, popular and art musics of North American. Found within the many oral traditions are common elements that apply to all human cultures. These elements are connected with the human mind, the limits of memory, the power of organization and the urge toward creativity. McLucas provides an overview of recent research on the brain and memory in order to help the reader understand the inner workings or oral tradition.