Curt Sachs – författare

More inclusive than any other art, the dance has been associated with every phase of human life. In relation to their historical setting the author deals with the magic powers attributed to the dance, and such motives as fertility, war, marriage and health. We read that the Indian divorces his wife in the dance and, when he is ill, dances to dispel the disease; and that once in front of the Turkish soldiers sixty Greek mothers and girls danced the old Romaiika as they threw themselves one after another into the abyss. The book includes analyses of many forms of the art--sitting dances, dances of the hands, solo, group and couple dances--and a discussion of rhythm and melody in relation to the dance.But it is not only because of its informative character that the book is distinguished. World History of the Dance, written with rare force and insight, communicates a feeling for its subject such as is seldom found in works of historical research. It is the author's understanding of the essence of the art, its exhilaration and power to break down the distinctions of ordinary life, that makes his book so rich a contribution to the knowledge and appreciation of the dance.

Keine ausführliche Beschreibung für "Die Musikinstrumente Indiens und Indonesiens" verfügbar.

Keine ausfuhrliche Beschreibung fur "e;Die Musik der Alten Welt in Ost und West"e; verfugbar.

typical mild "Sachsonian" humor and illustrated with a wealth of examples and evidence. I doubt whether any other of us ethnomusicologists would have been capable of writing such a comprehensive study: S~chs had at his fingertips a phenomenal amount of factual information. Sometimes, under his wise guidance, complicated propositions become surprisingly simple. The reader will be as fascinated as I was by the originality of some of his conelusions, captivated by his penetrating com- parisons, and charmed by his rich and expressive language. After having lived with this book for aperiod of some months, I realize a1l themore what the death of Curt Sachs means to the musicological world. "The Wellsprings of Music" forms a worthy elose to that long series of publications his boundless energy and unsurpassed knowledge have given uso I feel greatly indebted to Dr. Eric Werner, New York, for his decisive encouragement towards the publication of this work and for the active interest he took in it. I want also to express my gratitude to the musicologist Miss Marijke Charbon, The Hague, for having made an Index of N ames and for some useful suggestions.Amsterdam, 15th February 1960 JAAP KUNST My dear friend Jaap Kunst did not live to see this book in print. I wish to express my deep gratitude to him, whose dedi- cated help and unfailing and devoted interest made its publi- cation possible.