Les UST Nouvelles cles pour l'ecoute (review)

You cannot help but learn something new every time you use this fascinating CD-ROM by MIM. It offers historical background, composer biographies, sample analyses and multiple ways to examine musical compositions. Rather than being just a tutorial or a manual, Nouvelles clés pour l'écoute (New Tools for Listening) also addresses issues of nuance and philosophy in music.

Whether you are a composer, a musician or simply curious about how music is created, Nouvelles clés pour l'écoute will hold your interest. Young people and students will benefit from its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. There are games, puzzles and text that illuminate various musical terms. In fact, the more technical/philosophical concepts such as "Trajectoire inexorable" (relentless trajectory) and "Lourdeur' (heaviness) are explained in a section that presents a context for numerous ideas. It is a pleasure to see some of the more esoteric and philosophical aspects of music placed alongside the technical. One great strength is the section with links that allow you to find more information outside of the CD. Its encylopedic nature makes Nouvelles clés pour l'écoute a great resource that would be a good addition to any library.

My favorite part is when a cursor floats over the written score of Debussy's La Terrasse de audiences du Claire de lune. You can see and hear the score as it is played. I like the feeling of insight this gives me. What is more, upon seeing a direct relationship between the written score and the music, I feel closer to the composer's ideas. I can imagine how Debussy must have changed notes to get it just the way he wanted. After all, I can see it right there in front of me. There is something reassuring in the knowledge that every written note has a corresponding sound. But that is not all—the same thing is done with an anonymous Gregorian chant from the 12th century (Alleluia non vos relinquam) and with music by Dutilleux and Reibel. Each section contains hyperlinks and is extensively cross-referenced. More than 76 musical topics are examined.

MIM promotes music education and has sponsored conferences on various subjects. The CD-ROM works on any computer with a processor that runs at 200mz or higher. Further information on MIM activities and events can be found on its web site: <http://www.labo-mim.org>.