Full Description
Haydn, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms, oh, my! The beginner's guide to classical music Classical Music For Dummies is a friendly, funny, easy-to-understand guide to composers, instruments, orchestras, concerts, recordings, and more. Classical music is widely considered one of the pinnacles of human achievement, and this informative guide will shows you just how beautiful and rewarding it can be. You'll learn how Bach is different from Beethoven, how Mozart is different still, and why not all "classical" music is actually Classical if it's really Baroque or Romantic. You'll be introduced to the composers and their work, and discover the groundbreaking pieces that shake the world every time they're played. Begin building your classical music library with the essential recordings that define orchestral, choral, and operatic beauty as you get acquainted with the orchestras and musicians that bring the composers to life. Whether you want to play classical music or just learn more about it, Classical Music For Dummies will teach you everything you need to know to get the most out of this increasingly popular genre.
* Distinguish flute from piccolo, violin from viola, and trumpet from trombone * Learn the difference between overtures, requiems, arias, and masses * Explore the composers that shaped music as we know it * Discover the recordings your music library cannot be without Classical music has begun sneaking into the mainstream if your interest has been piqued, there's never been a better time to develop an appreciation for this incredibly rich, complex, and varied body of work. Classical Music For Dummies lays the groundwork, and demonstrates just how amazing classical music can be.
Contents
Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started with Classical Music 5 Chapter 1: Prying Open the Classical Music Oyster 7 Chapter 2: The Entire History of Music in 80 Pages 13 Chapter 3: Knowing How to Spot a Sonata 91 Part II: Listen Up! 111 Chapter 4: Dave n Scott s E ]Z Concert Survival Guide 113 Chapter 5: For Your Listening Pleasure 137 Intermission: Taking a Backstage Tour 159 Part III: A Field Guide to the Orchestra 177 Chapter 6: Keyboards & Co 179 Chapter 7: Strings Attached 191 Chapter 8: Gone with the Woodwinds 209 Chapter 9: The Top (and Bottom) Brass 223 Chapter 10: Percussion s Greatest Hits 235 Part IV: Peeking into the Composer s Brain 247 Chapter 11: The Dreaded Music Theory Chapter 249 Chapter 12: Once More, with Feeling: Tempo, Dynamics, and Orchestration 289 Part V: The Part of Tens 297 Chapter 13: The Ten Most Common Misconceptions about Classical Music 299 Chapter 14: The Ten Best Musical Terms for Cocktail Parties 305 Chapter 15: Ten Great Classical Music Jokes 311 Chapter 16: Ten Ways to Get More Music in Your Life 317 Part VI: The Appendixes 325 Appendix A: Starting a Classical Music Collection 327 Appendix B: Classical Music Timeline 333 Appendix C: Glossary 341 Index 347
