Description

Epstein explores the intricate connection between the profound art of music and the empirical field of neurobiology. He combines philosophical and scientific approaches to develop a theory regarding the fundamental yet elusive aspect of music known as time. Through a detailed analysis of motion, tempo, and emotion, Shaping Time presents a theory on how we perceive, perform, and interpret music. Epstein posits that audience satisfaction during a musical performance is influenced by the timing trajectories set by the performer at the outset of the piece. When the timing of a performance diverges from audience expectations, listeners may experience both physical and emotional discomfort. Epstein illustrates his thesis with a diverse array of examples from the musical repertoire.