A Concise History of Western Music

by Paul Griffiths

• ISBN13: 9780521842945
• ISBN10: 0521842948
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-07-17
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Engaging, clear and informative, this is the story of western music - of its great composers, its performers and listeners, and of the ever changing ideas of what music is and what it is for. Paul Griffiths shows how music has evolved through the centuries, and suggests how musical evolution has reflected developments in history and culture. The book provides an enticing introduction for students and beginners, using the minimum of technical terms, all straightforwardly defined in the glossary. Its perspective and its insights will also make it illuminating for teachers, musicians and music lovers. Suggestions for further reading and recommended recordings are given at the end of each of the 24 short chapters.

Table of Contents

Prehistory

Part I. Time Whole: 1. From Babylonians to Franks

Part II. Time Measured 1100-1400: 2. Troubadours and organists

3. Ars nove and Narcissus's clock

Part III. Time Sensed 1400-1630: 4. Harmony, the light of time

5. The radiance of the High Renaissance

6. Reformation and heartache

7. To speak in music

Part IV. Time Known 1630-1770: 8. Baroque mornings

9. Fugue, concerto and operatic passion

10. Rococo and reform

Part V. Time Embraced 1770-1815: 11. Sonata as comedy

12. Revolution's momentum

Part VI. Time Escaping 1815-1907: 13. The deaf man and the singer

14. Angels and other prodigies

15. New Germans and old Vienna

16. Romantic evenings

17. Nightfall and sunrise

Part VII. Time Tangled 1908-1975: 18. To begin again

19. Forwards and backwards, and sideways

20. The people's needs

21. To begin again again

22. Whirlwind

Part VIII. Time Lost 1975-: 23. Echoes in the labyrinth

24. Interlude

Glossary

Further reading and listening.