In this fascinating account of the way in which we understand music, Laird Addis builds on the idea, first articulated by Susanne Langer, that passages of music symbolize emotions and other conscious states. He maintains that the unique bond joining music and feelings is based on a previously unnoticed affinity between consciousness and sound. Addis combines a scholar's insight with a musician's sensibility to make an engaging and convincing statement that will help readers comprehend music's importance in human affairs.