"For the broad perspective it provides of man as music-maker, as also for the lucid résumé of past and present appraoches to this subject which it presents, Merriam's new book should, I think, be treated as essential reading both within the social sciences and the humanities." —Man
"With great thoroughness, Merriam has pointed out to anthropologists how much they can contribute to our general knowledge of music as human experience." —American Anthropologist
"...Merriam's book, seen from the viewpoint of anthropology, is deserving of the highest respect."
—Ethnomusicology
"With great thoroughness, Merriam has pointed out to anthropologists how much they can contribute to our general knowledge of music as human experience."
~David P. McAllester, Wesleyan University, American Anthropologist