Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.17 (756 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0465097545 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 336 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-03-17 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Music to Swafford is not a dry, intellectual exercise, but rather an emotional experience touching on the full range of feeling of which humans are capable. It should be required reading in all schools!"-John O'Conor, award-winning pianist and former Director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music"Reading Jan's Swafford's Language of the Spirit is like taking a road trip through the land of classical music with your wickedly smart but charmingly self-deprecating best friend in charge of the map, stopping by must-see landmarks and hidden by-ways that are clearly personal favorites. Swafford slips in many interesting digressions. His book is perfect for people who are curious about classical music but feel somewhat intimidated by it."-Wall Street Journal"This book distils Jan Swafford's experience of passing on his knowledge and experience to others, and making it enjoyable for them.Between the stories of the composers, Mr. But in the end, music t
For many of us, classical music is something serious-something we study in school, something played by cultivated musicians at fancy gatherings. In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. He traces the history of Western music, introduces readers to the most important composers and compositions, and explains the underlying structure and logic of their music.Language of the Spirit is essential reading for anyone who has ever wished to know more about this sublime art.. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah, from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre
Caroline Mast said He enjoyed it very much and did learn something he was. This was a gift to my husbanda retired musician and conductor whose main avocation now is reading books on composers and all music. He enjoyed it very much and did learn something he was not aware of in his knowledge of music.. "good overview" according to musicnerd. Good overview for those unfamiliar to music appreciation. Swafford keeps it relatively short. Not a bad place to start from.. Five Stars Great introduction for a non-musician.
A regular contributor to Slate, the Guardian, and the Boston Globe and a former professor of composition at the Boston Conservatory, Swafford lives in Medford, Massachusetts. . Jan Swafford is a preeminent composer and music scholar and the author of bestselling The Vintage Guide to Classical Music