Classical Music: A Beginner's Guide

Description

What does classical music mean to the Western World? How has it transformed over the centuries? With such a rich tradition, what relevance does it have today? Julian Johnson inspires readers to explore the field, and examines how music is related to some of the big ideas of Western experience including spirituality, emotion, the weight of history, and self identity.

Julian Johnson is currently Professor of Music at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is also a composer and public speaker on musicology, championing the relevance of classical music to the general public.

"Johnson combines boundless enthusiasm for the subject with extensive knowledge and manages to convey a decent quantity of the latter in economical and effortless fashion." * Classical Music * "Johnson offers an entirely fresh and highly engaging perspective on how classical music developed from plainsong to the present day. He wears his learning lightly, relating each stage of his story to other events in western culture while simultaneously inspiring the curious to investigate further and listen to the great works he refers to." * Classic FM * "Johnson answers the big questions." * Classic FM *