W. A. Mathieu

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William Allaudin Mathieu (b. 1937) is a composer, pianist, choir director, music teacher, and author. He studied Indian vocal music with Pandit Pran Nath. Early in his career he worked as an arranger for Stan Kenton. He was the original director of the Sufi Choir founded in 1969 in San Francisco among followers of Samuel L. Lewis.

His books include:

• The Listening Book (1991) Shambhala. ISBN 0-87773-610-3.
• The Musical Life: Reflections On What It Is And HowTo Live It (1994) Shambhala. ISBN 0-87773-670-7.
• Harmonic Experience: Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origins to Its Modern Expression (1997) Inner Traditions Intl Ltd. ISBN 0-89281-560-4.

Harmonic Experience (561 pages) offers a view of music theory that harmonizes Western and Eastern perspectives. Understanding can be actively enhanced by utilizing its autodidactic ear-training and sight-singing exercises, especially using singing sargam syllables over a drone such as a tamboura or possibly a Western fifth played in just intonation.