"Rich in discussion-worthy arguments … an important contribution to musical aesthetics." — Die Tonkunst"An excellent and expansive view of where we now are in the larger world of contemporary art music." ― Academic QuestionsThese essays by a prominent composer offer a thought-provoking exploration of a current trend in classical music. Author John Borstlap advocates a departure from the atonal characteristics typical of modern music and a return to more trad...

The Classical Revolution studies the recent emergence of a new brand of classical music, one rooted in “pre-modern” tonal traditions. Through polemical essays on the conflict between re-emergent tradition and the usual, bland “modern music” in which academic atonalism, process music and attempts to borrow some life from pop and world music form a rather isolated territory, Borstlap examines both the philosophical and aesthetic positions of these new classical composers, positions too often...

Johann Joachim Quantz's On Playing the Flute has long been recognized as one of the primary sources of information about eighteenth-century performance practice. In spite of its title, it is not simply a tutor for the flute, but a fully-fledged programme for training musicians of all types, with detailed information on intonation, ornamentation, dynamics, the 'duties' of the various accompanying performers, including the leader of the orchestra, and the principal forms and styles ...

Theory is a six-letter dirty word to most musicians, but hey, musicians love dirty words, right? And just like all the other dirty words, theory is easy to learn and fun to use! After studying 'popular' and 'classical' music theory, Ray Harmony created a unique approach that he uses to compose his songs, which feature multi-platinum Grammy winners Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), and many more. Ray Harmony is an award-winning music lecturer and multi...

During the last few decades, most cultural critics have come to agree that the division between "high" and "low" art is an artificial one, that Beethoven's Ninth and "Blue Suede Shoes" are equally valuable as cultural texts. In Who Needs Classical Music?, Julian Johnson challenges these assumptions about the relativism of cultural judgements. The author maintains that music is more than just "a matter of taste": while some music provides entertainment, or serves as background nois...

Building on ideas first advanced by Arnold Schoenberg and later developed by Erwin Ratz, this book introduces a new theory of form for instrumental music in the classical style. The theory provides a broad set of principles and a comprehensive methodology for the analysis of classical form, from individual ideas, phrases, and themes to the large-scale organization of complete movements. It emphasizes the notion of formal function, that is, the specific role a given formal unit pla...

Teach yourself how to play guitar with our easy classical guitar lessons for beginners.***Comes with online access to free guitar videos and audio for all examples. See and hear how each one is played by a teacher, then play along with the backing band. Also includes music score animation for easy music learning.***"Best teacher on paper! I’ve always wanted to learn how to play a guitar. It amazes me how I was able to learn so fast." - Joe McDougal...

Who’s Afraid of Classical Music?For years Joan Kennedy, at home, on the campaign trail, and in concert, has shared her love of classical music with adults and children. Now she uses her experience as a teacher and musician to show how you and your family can make music an enriching part of your lives. In this easy-to-understand and reassuring guide, Joan Kennedy explains:• How to start listening to classical music and enjoying what you hear—with a minimum of effort and expe...

Teach yourself to play classical guitar masterpieces with this great classical guitar sheet music collection, carefully arranged for the classical guitar player.***Comes with online access to free audio demonstrating all examples. Hear how each one is played by a teacher, then play along.***"Very nice collection! Wonderfully done. Waldron presents his books with wisdom in their progression of difficulty. Lovely arrangements!!! Excellent. A good suppleme...

In these enlightening essays, the Austrian composer and music theorist presents his vision of how music speaks to us and what it is capable of saying.This book is full of essays which Arnold Schoenberg wrote on style and idea. He talks about the relationship to the text, new and outmoded music, composition in twelve tones, entertaining through composing, the relationship of heart and mind in music, evaluation of music, and other essays.

Few genres of the last 250 years have proved so crucial to the course of music history, or so vital to public musical experience, as the symphony. This Companion offers an accessible guide to the historical, analytical and interpretative issues surrounding this major genre of Western music, discussing an extensive variety of works from the eighteenth century to the present day. The book complements a detailed review of the symphony's history with focused analytical essays from leading scho...