This page is editorial context and commentary about an unpublished essay by Jef Raskin, not the essay itself. Jef Raskin (1943-2005) was an American human-computer interaction expert and the originator of the Apple Macintosh project; his estate retains all rights to his published and unpublished writings.
This unpublished piece showcased the musical side of Raskin’s polymathic life — his experiences as a performer, conductor, and builder of musical instruments.
Raskin as Musician
Music was not a sideline for Raskin; it was a central part of his identity. He held a degree in music, directed the chamber orchestra at the University of California San Diego, played recorder at a professional level, and built instruments including a harpsichord and a pipe organ. His musical life was as serious and disciplined as his work in computing.
The Joy of Making Music
The title suggests a piece that celebrated the pleasures of active music-making rather than passive listening. Raskin believed that engaging directly with music — whether through performance, composition, or instrument construction — was fundamentally different from, and richer than, simply consuming recordings. This view paralleled his philosophy of computing, where he championed active user engagement over passive consumption.
Craftsmanship
Raskin’s instrument-building activities demonstrated the same attention to detail and insistence on understanding underlying principles that characterized all his work. Building a pipe organ or harpsichord requires knowledge of acoustics, materials science, and woodworking, all integrated through careful craftsmanship. For Raskin, these projects were expressions of the same drive that led him to redesign computer interfaces.
Music and Design
Throughout his career, Raskin emphasized the connections between musical training and good design. Both require sensitivity to structure, pattern, and the experience of the person on the receiving end.
This page is part of the Jef Raskin Reference, providing editorial commentary on the unpublished works of the creator of the Macintosh project.