Nolan Gasser
Welcome to Nolan Gasser’s official website! Nolan is a critically acclaimed composer, pianist, author, and musicologist—most notably the architect of Pandora Radio’s Music Genome Project. His principal musical works include the musical BENNY & JOON, the opera SECRET GARDEN, and the orchestral tone poem COSMIC REFLECTION. He is the author of WHY YOU LIKE IT: THE SCIENCE AND CULTURE OF MUSICAL TASTE, and lectures regularly on a wide range of musical topics. Explore this site for more on Nolan’s eclectic and innovative output and activities.
Nolan’s 2019 book unlocks the full and fascinating story behind our universal love for music: where it comes from, what is says about us, and how it can best enrich our lives! The book is garnering huge acclaim and interest across the country: via interviews on “All Things Considered” and KQED’s Forum, in articles in Psychology Today
and the LA Times, and in rave reviews—for example, called “a work of staggering erudition and breadth” by The Economist
and “one of those rare books that both geeks and casual listeners can enjoy” by The Washington Post—among much else. Click here
to learn more.