The Classical Music Book

By: DK

Narrated by: Peter Forbes

From Mozart to Mendelssohn, this comprehensive guide to classical music history and classical music biography is the perfect latest addition to the bestselling Big Ideas series.

Easy to understand and clear to follow, this history of classical music explores and explains music theory and the impact of seminal pieces, while also providing fascinating stories about the lives of crucial composers and performers.

Including an insightful foreword by Katie Derham, The Classical Music Book analyses over 90 works by famous composers. From Thomas Tallis in the early period to baroque masters like Bach and Handel, to the classical genius of Beethoven and Wagner and beyond to the modern day, The Classical Music Book explores the key ideas underpinning the world's greatest classical compositions and musical traditions, and defines their importance to the musical canon, placing them into their wider social, cultural, and historical context.

The unique approach to the subject makes this book the perfect classical music guide for everyone. Regardless of whether you are relatively new to the subject and want to learn or if you are a classical music aficionado, there is plenty to discover in The Classical Music Book.

© 2018 Dorling Kindersley Ltd © 2020 DK Audio

Great skim over music history

I’m a musician and big classical music lover but have never really learned about the history of it and how music got to where it is today. I think this book was a decent skim over music and its history. Could be good for musicians and non-musicians alike. The book doesn’t go into much detail about each composer or each genre but more gives the overall timeline of classical music starting from 1000 to today. There’s lots of fun facts and tidbits that really got me thinking about music in a new way. Definitely recommend.

Disappointing

I had expected that there would be audio examples to add to the discussion and information. Unfortunately they were not included. A disappointment!