ABBA Let The Music Speak

Samuel Ingless was very kind and sent me a copy of the ABBA book "ABBA Let The Music Speak". An extraordinary analytic book about ABBA's music. Here's an article from The Herald Sun, from 19 April 2009

The Sun-Herald (Sydney) – Sunday, 19 April 2009 (Page 23) 

Thank you for ABBA music book. By Christine Sams – Entertainment Reporter

It’s the secret behind why we still love ABBA songs - and it goes beyond the glamorous white suits and cheeky dance numbers. 

Not only do many of the songs have a simple but a striking chord structure based on variations of do-re-mi, but the choruses are purposefully repetitive so people always remember the song names. 

“The titles of all the ABBA songs were always the actual hook as well – that was one of their secrets,” said Christopher Patrick, who has spent four years researching the structure of ABBA’s music. 

The musicologist, who is based in Brisbane, is one of the first people in the world to provide an expert study of ABBA’s songs. 

“My hope is to basically make both a lay person and the serious musician know what makes ABBA work and why,” said Mr Patrick. “Of course there is a divine simplicity about it. Sometimes the melodies themselves might seem quite straightforward, but the arrangements and the production are quite intricate. That’s what makes the songs stand the test of time.” 

Mr Patrick’s new book ‘ABBA: Let The Music Speak’ has the potential to be read by millions of ABBA fans worldwide, such is the popularity of the Swedish pop group. 

Some internet fan sites are already recommending it. And it seems at least two of the band may have checked out the research: “Both Benny [Andersson] and Björn [Ulvaeus] both have a copy.” 

Photo: Björn again…musicologist Christopher Patrick with his book analysing the structure of ABBA’s music.

Comments

[mikespeir]

I have and have read this book. As a writer myself, I was very impressed with Chris's style. He takes a fairly abstruse subject and makes it easy to understand.

Chris is a conservatory trained cellist who plays in a symphony orchestra who has also done extensive work with some very big-name popular musical groups and acts. There aren't many people in the world so qualified to write a book like this as he is.

I had a brief e-mail conversation with him. I hope me doesn't mind me summarizing one of our exchanges. I asked him, now that he has done such a wonderful job with ABBA's music in "Let the Music Speak," whether might consider writing other books about other popular groups. His response, paraphrased, was that writing such a work takes an enormous amount of research and effort. He told he that he doesn't think he could work up the same level of passion for any other group. For a man of Chris's qualifications to state that he doesn't consider any other group worthy of that level of effort on his part says a lot about ABBA's place in musical history.

I've been a classical music nut all my life. I'm an experienced listener. I'm well acquainted with the work of musical geniuses and feel I can say without hesitation that ABBA was one of those rare, rare popular musical acts where the word "genius" is just automatically part of the conversation. Still, in "Let the Music Speak" Chris has pointed out many fascinating subtleties in ABBA's music that I missed; things that have made me appreciate the music all the more.

I can't imagine any serious ABBA fan wanting to be without "Let the Music Speak." It is truly a one-of-a-kind work that will leave you appreciating the glory of the music like you never have before.