"Music and Mathematics" edited by John Fauvel, Raymond Flood and Robin Wilson. Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, ISBN 978-0-19-929893-8
Since this book isn’t a work of fiction, I can briefly describe what it’s all about without destroying the pleasure of the reading. In fact, the basis of the book is outlined on the back cover, and I quote it here:
“From Ancient Greek times, music has been seen as a mathematical art, and the relationship between mathematics and music has fascinated generations. This new-in-paperback edition of a collection of wide-ranging, comprehensive and fully illustrated papers, authored by leading scholars, presents the link between these two fields in a lucid manner that is suitable for students of both subjects, as well as the general reader with an interest in music.”
“Physical, theoretical, physiological, acoustic, compositional, and analytical relationships between music and mathematics are unfolded and explored with focus on tuning and temperament, the mathematics of sound, and modern compositional techniques.”
This is a lucid and stimulating introduction to a many-sided topic, leavened with amusing anecdotes and occasional donnish humour. The writing throughout is wonderfully elegant and clear, so when the mathematical symbolism defeated me I could still follow the gist of the argument. BBC Music Magazine.