Music in the Family of the Muses by L. Tarasov, and: Golden Strings by A. Vladimirov, and: Entertaining Music Theory by G. Vinogradov and E. Krasovskaya (review)

BOOKS THE ARCHITECTURE OF WEIGHTLESSNESS: AN INVITATION TO REFLECT by Yaroslav Golovanov. Mashinostroyeniye, Moscow, 1985. 143 pp. Reviewed by Vladimir Chudnovsky, Dekabristov Str., 100-43, Kazan, 420080, Russia. We are living in an epoch of scientific and technological revolution. What aspects of our lives have not been affected by the process of radical change? And now we are on the threshold of a revolution in architecture. Of this fact one will be convinced after reading the book by Yaroslav Golovanov, a wellknown Russian-formerly Soviet-journalist writing on space themes. The main focus of this work is the author's effort to bring us to reflect on the vistas opened to architects due to their emancipation from their main "enemy"gravity , which was for centuries the "permanent critic and maliciouslyjoyful inspector" of the architect's creative work. This focus is much needed, since only a few architectural theoreticians have turned their vision to space. The list of Golovanov's predecessors is quite short. Georgy B. Borisovsky was the first and only architect to include a chapter on the topic "Architecture and Gravity" in his book entitled Architecture Directed Towards the Future (1977). He was the only designer to develop constructions that could be built in space. The same year, B.B. Zefeld published an article, "Space Objects Architecture" (1977). There are a number of questions awaiting answers in this field: the principle one is that of the basic differences between the branches of terrestrial and space architecture. Humankind's exit to space resulted, in the author's opinion, in the overthrow of basic architectural axioms, which had been the foundation of the 10-volume classic work on architecture by Vitruvy Pollion. The essence REVIEWS of the axioms consists of connecting horizontals and verticals-this is why he labels terrestrial architecture "the architecture of planes" and defines the plane as perpendicular to the gravitational field. Correspondingly, he considers the architecture of weightlessness to be truly volumetric. Furthermore, another dogma to "collapse" in space is that of stability (firmness). This case raises the following question: What are the requirements with which the new architecture should comply? If the result is indeed the architecture of weightlessness, the overcompensation of pressure (equilibrium ) will be the most urgent. Architects, in designing projects to be realized on Earth, only face this problem occasionally. In space, on the other hand, stretch-resistant materials are preferable to the compression-resistant ones used in terrestrial buildings. Golovanov suggests that weightlessness allows architects to express aesthetic ideas whose realization has been prevented by gravity. Thus, the sphere is considered to be an optimal architectural form, but the maximum extent to which this form can be utilized on Earth is the hemisphere. Another serious problem Golovanov explores is that of closed-space compensation. To its merit, the book contrasts problems facing terrestrial and space architects . The influence of architectural forms on the human psyche has validity for both terrestrial and space architects . But along with the obvious merits of this book there are some omissions. For example, in his treatment of selferecting space-construction projects, Golovanov neglects to mention the well-known projects ofV. Koleychuk (set forth is his book Mobile Architecture .) However, despite such shortcomings , the author achieves his objective -that of attracting attention to the problems of space architecture. Evidence of this is made clear by the recent development in Russia of an "Extreme Environments Architecture" center, which encourages space construction projects [1]. Note 1. For more information about the center, contact Alga N. Zakharova, 10047, Russian Federation Union of Architects, Shusev Str., 7, Moscow, 103001, Russia. The center took part in the first International Design for Extreme Environments Association (lDEEA) congress, which was held in Houston, Texas, in 1991. MUSIC IN THE FAMILYOF THE MUSES by L. Tarasov. Detskaya Literatura, Leningrad, 1985. 159 pp. GOLDEN STRINGS by A. Vladimirov. Detskaya Literatura, Moscow, 1991. 191 pp. ENTERTAINING MUSIC THEORY by G. Vinogradov and E. Krasovskaya. Moscow, 1991. 191 pp. Reviewed by Irina L. Vanechkina, Teatralnaya Str., 3-3, Kazan, 420111, Russia. In the Soviet Union, the publication of many interesting ideas on the boundaries of art and science was quite complicated . That is why a talented author's ideas...