Comments on: Oliver Sacks explains how your brain does music http://boingboing.net/2007/09/25/oliver-sacks-explain.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 18 May 2013 15:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: RP http://boingboing.net/2007/09/25/oliver-sacks-explain.html#comment-27949 RP Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-27949 His contribution to the Radiolab on same topic is also quite masterful. His contribution to the Radiolab on same topic is also quite masterful.

]]> By: Wingo http://boingboing.net/2007/09/25/oliver-sacks-explain.html#comment-28212 Wingo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-28212 Whoa! Literal flashback... Once I was on a very similar mescaline mountain (many years ago - ahh... college). I was listening to Coltrane's version of Mood Indigo, and with every phrase he played, a swirl of amazing color was splashed across the wall. One of the greatest experiences of my life. Crazy. So many odd parallels. Great article. I feel as though I am REQUIRED to read this book now - especially being a musician. Whoa! Literal flashback…

Once I was on a very similar mescaline mountain (many years ago – ahh… college). I was listening to Coltrane’s version of Mood Indigo, and with every phrase he played, a swirl of amazing color was splashed across the wall. One of the greatest experiences of my life.

Crazy. So many odd parallels. Great article. I feel as though I am REQUIRED to read this book now – especially being a musician.

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2007/09/25/oliver-sacks-explain.html#comment-27959 dculberson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-27959 Damn, that sounds like a fun mountain. I wonder if I'm too old for that any more? ;-) Damn, that sounds like a fun mountain. I wonder if I’m too old for that any more? ;-)

]]> By: DianneS http://boingboing.net/2007/09/25/oliver-sacks-explain.html#comment-28026 DianneS Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-28026 Also, the latest issue of Seed magazine has a nice story on the events leading up to his writing this book. Also, the latest issue of Seed magazine has a nice story on the events leading up to his writing this book.

]]> By: Steve Silberman http://boingboing.net/2007/09/25/oliver-sacks-explain.html#comment-28028 Steve Silberman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-28028 That Seed piece, by the brilliant Jonah Lehrer, is excellent. Thanks for the link to my interview, Cory! I also want to call attention to a sidebar that ran with the piece, written at my request by Sacks himself -- his annotated list of favorite classical music: <a href="http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/15-10/ff_musicophilia_ipod">Sacks' IPod Playlist</a> That Seed piece, by the brilliant Jonah Lehrer, is excellent.

Thanks for the link to my interview, Cory! I also want to call attention to a sidebar that ran with the piece, written at my request by Sacks himself — his annotated list of favorite classical music:

Sacks’ IPod Playlist

]]> By: iain010100 http://boingboing.net/2007/09/25/oliver-sacks-explain.html#comment-28285 iain010100 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-28285 "<i>Absolute pitch ... In professional musicians it's <b>1 in 10</b>."</i> I think most of us would disagree with this. Out of the thousands of musicians I've known only two or three had perfect pitch. “Absolute pitch … In professional musicians it’s 1 in 10.”

I think most of us would disagree with this. Out of the thousands of musicians I’ve known only two or three had perfect pitch.

]]> By: Steve Silberman http://boingboing.net/2007/09/25/oliver-sacks-explain.html#comment-28305 Steve Silberman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-28305 Iain, I wouldn't be surprised if he meant <i>symphonic</i> musicians. But I'm not sure. > Coltrane's version of Mood Indigo I didn't understand Coltrane at all until I heard a version of "India" with Eric Dolphy when I was tripping on acid in college. Then all became clear, and has remained clear since, at least Coltrane-wise. Iain, I wouldn’t be surprised if he meant symphonic musicians. But I’m not sure.

> Coltrane’s version of Mood Indigo

I didn’t understand Coltrane at all until I heard a version of “India” with Eric Dolphy when I was tripping on acid in college. Then all became clear, and has remained clear since, at least Coltrane-wise.

]]> By: risingstarz http://boingboing.net/2007/09/25/oliver-sacks-explain.html#comment-436975 risingstarz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-436975 One of the things I love about Dr. Sacks is how much he makes emotion (and endeavors based on emotion, like music) primary to understanding medical conditions. It's fascinating to me how he and other neurologists even think of music as being essential to human beings, perhaps even earlier than speech. Which is so strange, when you think about it, because we're used to thinking of homo sapiens' logic and reasoning abilities as what separates us from the beasts. I've been reading a lot about Dr. Sacks at http://www.cuarts.com/sacks. Question: Why doesn't my dog seem to respond to music? One of the things I love about Dr. Sacks is how much he makes emotion (and endeavors based on emotion, like music) primary to understanding medical conditions. It’s fascinating to me how he and other neurologists even think of music as being essential to human beings, perhaps even earlier than speech. Which is so strange, when you think about it, because we’re used to thinking of homo sapiens’ logic and reasoning abilities as what separates us from the beasts. I’ve been reading a lot about Dr. Sacks at http://www.cuarts.com/sacks.

Question: Why doesn’t my dog seem to respond to music?

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