This volume investigates the multifaceted mechanisms through which music functions as a primary mode of human communication. The editors, David John Hargreaves, Dorothy Miell, and Raymond A. R. MacDonald, curate a collection of contributions from leading researchers to analyze the biological, cognitive, social, and cultural foundations of musical interaction. The text establishes a framework for understanding how sound structures convey meaning and facilitate connection across diverse contexts.

Experts identify this work as a foundational resource for scholars in music cognition and communication studies. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous reference for advanced students and researchers in the field.