Author Description

This book is about listening, appreciating, understanding, and discussing music; it will explore the history, aesthetics, and criticism of music so that you will better understand the background and meaning of Western music. In studying this book and the supplementary listening examples, you will come away a more informed music-listener who can enjoy a broader spectrum of music from both the past and the present. The musical world is full of so many selections that we could not possibly cover them all in this book. However, by completing this course of study, you will gain the tools and skills needed to critically listen to and consider a variety of musical aspects that can apply to any musical style. These tools include contextual information about composers, history, and musical styles. A solid foundation of musical terms and concepts, allow you to listen for key ideas in the music and to discuss what you are hearing.