The Complete Classical Music Guide - Hardcover

DK

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0241422981 ISBN 13: 9780241422984

Publisher: DK, 2019

Synopsis

What makes Mozart's music so great? Why does a minor chord sound sad and a major chord sound happy? What's the difference between opera and operetta? From Bach to Bernstein, this definitive guide offers a complete survey of the history of classical music.

Whether you already love classical music or you're just beginning to explore it, The Complete Classical Music Guide invites you to discover the spirituality of Byrd's masses, the awesome power of Handel's Messiah, and the wonders of Wagner's operas, as well as hundreds more composers and their masterpieces. This guide takes you on a journey through more than 1,000 years, charting the evolution of musical instruments, styles, and genres. Biographies of major and lesser-known composers offer rich insights into their music and the historical and cultural contexts that influenced their genius.

The book explores the features that defined each musical era - from the ornate brilliance of the Baroque, through the drama of Romantic music, to contemporary genres such as minimalism and electronic music. Timelines, quotes, and colour photographs give a voice to this music and the exceptionally gifted individuals who created it.

About this title

About the Author

John Burrows, OBE (foreword writer) is a concert promoter and organizer who has worked with many of the world's leading orchestras and artists, including Luciano Pavarotti, Leonard Bernstein, and Yehudi Menuhin. He established the Capital Radio Music Festivals and has been Director of the Classic FM Summer Music Festival. John is an Honorary Member of the Royal College of Music. He lives in Hampshire.

From the Back Cover

What makes Mozart's music so great? Why does a minor chord sound sad and a major chord sound happy? What's the difference between opera and operetta? From Bach to Bernstein, this definitive guide offers a complete survey of the history of classical music.

Whether you already love classical music or you're just beginning to explore it, The Complete Classical Music Guide invites you to discover the spirituality of Byrd's masses, the awesome power of Handel's Messiah, and the wonders of Wagner's operas, as well as hundreds more composers and their masterpieces. This guide takes you on a journey through more than 1,000 years, charting the evolution of musical instruments, styles, and genres. Biographies of major and lesser-known composers offer rich insights into their music and the historical and cultural contexts that influenced their genius.

The book explores the features that defined each musical era - from the ornate brilliance of the Baroque, through the drama of Romantic music, to contemporary genres such as minimalism and electronic music. Timelines, quotes, and colour photographs give a voice to this music and the exceptionally gifted individuals who created it. Covering both music history and the fundamental elements of classical music, The Complete Classical Music Guide explains not just the who, what, and where of classical music, but the how and why.

Edition details

• Publisher: DK
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 0241422981
• ISBN 13: 9780241422984
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352