Review of Musical taste: Its measurement and cultural nature

Abstract

Reviews the book, "Musical taste: Its measurement and cultural nature," by P. R. Farnsworth (see record 1950-05733-000 ). This book begins with a chapter in which the general problem of taste in music is stated and the more specific and controversial questions are identified. This is followed in six further chapters with critical summaries of the available data on the laws of taste, the formal measurement of taste, polling and its problems, operational procedures, conditioners of taste and studies in the evaluation of eminent composers. In a final chapter, the significant conclusions from this wealth of data are presented. The book therefore begins where the usual history and exposition of aesthetics ends, although in carrying the story and the problems forward into the realm of empirical data, it may turn a corner which many older workers and writers will find a little disconcerting. This enlightening and stimulating review of music research by one of its most sophisticated scholars has two most essential virtues: it is clear and complete, and it is never tedious. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)