language of the spirit: an introduction to classical music

I’ve been using this for my classes and I’m finding it to be much better than I originally remember from my first reading. Engaging. In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. The book is mostly very readable, although I did find some of the technical discussion to be a bit of a challenge. Refresh and try again. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Language of the Spirit : An Introduction to Classical Music by Jan Swafford (2017, Hardcover) at the … Language of the Spirit is a short and breezy survey of the Western musical tradition from earliest times to the present. Mr. Swafford is witty, down-to-earth, opinionated, and effortlessly erudite. Basic, $27 (304p) ISBN 978-0-465-09754-8. “… in the end art is all made of the same inexhaustible material as the human spirit.”. Especially good for the novice who wants to learn more about classical music and the composers. Could be an. Basic Books; 1st edition (April 11, 2017), Language of the Spirit is a succinct but successful survey of Western Music's greatest composers and works of genius, Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2017. Mr. Stafford the academic, jealous and angry at Mr. Glass popular (such that it is) following? You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. It gives a great picture of a brief view on classical music. Mr. Swafford manages to provoke these feelings with a level of knowledge, wit, and humors that keeps the reader raptly engaged and eargerly turning the pages. Great read if you want to get an organized overview of the huge library of symphonic music. I appreciate he went in chronological order to give the reader an idea of how music changed. In the end, the source of such responses is a matter of magic and mystery, and so music echos the magic and mystery of the universe.". Swafford provides witty commentary and intriguing anecdotes about the composers. In Language of the Spirit, rewned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. This book’s five main parts are Music from the Beginning (mostly middle ages and renaissance, preceded by brief discussions of Sumerian artefacts, ancient Greeks and Romans); Baroque, Classical, etc, to Modernism and Beyond. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah , from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre. Sadly, I was hoping for language of a different spirit when I read this book. For those of us who like to casually listen to the classics, but know little about the music or composers, it is a real treat. I found this book to be charming, with the authors love for classical music and the composers discussed, shining out from each page. Even while not listening to the music, those guides are good reading. Sold by CE_BOOKHOUSE and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. I changed my rating from two stars to four. I had so much fun, learned so much, and was so moved. In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music provides a handy one-volume book that covers the subject in enough detail to satisfy my needs. A lovely addition to my library. In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. A really great introduction to western classical music. This book was immensely disappointing, but for reasons that are not entirely surprising. In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. This is essential reading for anyone looking for a somewhat-better-than-basic education in classical music. As a primer to classical music, this book works wonders. In this delightful primer to classical music, composer and music scholar Swafford (The Vintage Guide to Classical Music) conducts us breathlessly on a tour of the highlights of the history of classica Jan Swafford gives an introduction to the different periods of classical music along with some of the important composers. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Mr. Swafford is witty, down-to-earth, opinionated, and effortlessly erudite. LibraryThing is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers Jan Swafford Basic Books Hardback, £22 ***** EDITOR’S CHOICE. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. It is easy to understand and very readable. There will be things that non-classical musicians will not know, but for the most part, the author explains those in the context of the style most fitting. Language of text Publication date Language of text:English. Many of them I have heard as a governing member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, but some I have not (especially the chamber music stuff). Jan Swafford is a composer and writer. JAN SWAFFORD’S new book, “Language of the Spirit”, is a self-guided tour. Free 2-day shipping on qualified orders over $35. For many of us, classical music is something serious-something we study in school, something played by cultivated musicians at fancy gatherings. Mr. Swafford masterfully gives a brief yet concise history of the origins and development of classical music in addition to colorfully written glimpses of the most influential composers of the different periods. Music to Swafford is not a dry, intellectual exercise, but rather an emotional experience touching on the full … This book is a highly readable, brief history of classical music. There's a problem loading this menu right now. He has written respected musical biographies of Charles Ives, Johannes Brahms, and … Stanford Libraries' official online search tool for books, media, journals, databases, government documents and more. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah, from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre. A preeminent composer, music scholar, and biographer presents an engaging and accessible introduction to classical music. ‎For many of us, classical music is something serious—something we study in school, something played by cultivated musicians at fancy gatherings. I used Youtube to play the "suggested listening" pieces, but Spotify or any other online music sources can be used. In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. Be the first to ask a question about Language of the Spirit, This is essential reading for anyone looking for a somewhat-better-than-basic education in classical music. There will be things that non-classical musicians will not know, but for the most part, the author explains those in the context of the style most fitting. You will find. "What we feel from music is like what we feel from a sunset. The author does an excellent job of meeting the goal in this overview of the genre. I was so disappointed in his assessment of early music that I didn’t give it much of a chance, but this book actually functions really well in giving people new to classical music a basic idea of what’s going on. Such a treat. For many of us, classical music is something serious -- … Excellent, highly-readable survey of the history of classical music from the Middle Ages to the present. During this review, he covers Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Berlioz, Chopin, Wagner, Brahms, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Strauss, Debussey, and many others. You will find treasures. Light, fun, educational, and profoundly interesting. "Reading Jan's Swafford's Language of the Spirit is like taking a road trip through the land of classical music with your wickedly smart but charmingly self-deprecating best friend in charge of the map, stopping by must-see landmarks and hidden by-ways that are clearly personal favorites. I'm glad I took the time to listen to many of the pieces that Swafford recommended. Jan Swafford Basic Books Hardback, £22 ***** EDITOR’S CHOICE The sunset contains no emotion. The author does an excellent job of meeting the goal in this overview of the genre. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. For the 2020 holiday season, returnable items shipped between October 1 and December 31 can be returned until January 31, 2021. “The little Prelude in C Major that starts the set is one of Bach’s most famous and beloved pieces (it was reportedly a favorite of his, too), yet what appears to be a simple rippling up and down on chords disguises a complex interweaving of melodies.”, Bill Gates Picks 5 Good Books for a Lousy Year. Solid addition to music library, Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2018. Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music by Swafford, Jan available in Hardcover on Powells.com, also read synopsis and reviews. A preeminent composer, music scholar, and biographer presents an engaging and accessible introduction to classical music For many of us, classical music is something serious-something we study in school, something played by cultivated musicians at fancy gatherings. Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music. The author is a contemporary composer who wants to increase the legitimacy of his fellows in the classical music repertoire, and so this book has the exact opposite tendency that one would want--it focuses most of its attention on the less beautiful and less elevating parts of the repertoire, those which are the most contemporary, and less attention on the earlier music where a greater consensus about their. My recommendation would be to listen to the music in each chapter to really give you a better idea of the vast array of classical music there is. Divided into (short) chapters about the life of various influential composers, but *the best part* is the suggested pieces, helpfully highlighted in *bold*: I read the book with my Amazon Prime Music, playing excerpts on my phone. Language of the Spirit is a short and breezy survey of the Western musical tradition from earliest times to the present. We have new and used copies available, in 2 editions - starting at $8.95. Very readable introduction to classical music. According to Swafford it is intended to be a basic reference not a scholarly work. These well written vignettes about orchestral music enhance my understanding. Disclosure: Jan Swafford is a friend of mine from the early 1970s. Buy a cheap copy of Language of the Spirit: An Introduction... book by Jan Swafford. This was a gift to my husband...a retired musician and conductor whose main avocation now is reading books on composers and all music. If you are new to this Western Classical music thing, the book rates 5 stars: it is well-written, chockful of miscellaneous anecdotes and WILL expose you to some awesome music if you follow the listening recommendations. As you read the book you are also given a list of music examples to listen to which help enrich your appreciation and understanding of each period and composer. A preeminent composer, music scholar, and biographer presents an engaging and accessible introduction to classical music. Language of the Spirit An Introduction to Classical Music by Jan Swafford 9781541414860 (CD-Audio, 2017) Delivery Dispatched within 2 business days and shipped with USPS Product details Format:CD-Audio Language of text:English Isbn-13:9781541414860, 978-1541414860 Author:Jan Swafford Publisher:Tantor Media, Inc Imprint:Tantor Media, Inc Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2017. Good guide to classical music. Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2017. Language of the spirit : an introduction to classical music . A delight! Well written but primary for non- musicians. However, some music by modern composers were not enjoyable when I first heard them (and I don't intend on listening to them again unless the CSO plays them) - like Bartok's 2nd piano concerto, and Three Piano Pieces of Op 11, Both of these pieces of music give me a headache, but maybe you will like them. See especially Chapter 29 on Schoenberg for his rational, humanist take on what he calls the “anti anti-tonal strain.” “Nobody is required to like anything,” indeed. He has written biographies of Charles Ives, Brahms, and Beethoven, all well received, as well as a guide to classical music. I purchased this book after reading WQXR's "A Hand-Picked Gift Guide For the Classical Music Lover On Your List" (Nov. 22, 2017). In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. Twenty-seven of the chapters are composer summaries, which are fresh, perceptive, wise and stimulating. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. A preeminent composer, music scholar, and biographer presents an engaging and accessible introduction to classical music For many of us, classical music is something serious -- something we study in school, something played by cultivated musicians at fancy gatherings. His passion for the subject is infectious, and I’m no casual classical listener. One of those books that you take off the shelf and immediately know you have to read. I found this book to be charming, with the author’s love for classical music and the composers discussed, shining out from each page. The author seems to be unaware of the contradiction between trying to defend the pointlessness of so much contemporary music going back even into the late 19th century while pointing out how that music was directly hostile to audiences (much less to moral principles), even as the author celebrates a spirit of creativity that is definitely not a godly spirit. I would recommend this to the casual listener or someone wanting to get their pallets wet. Not overwhelming or dry. As you read. A preeminent composer and music scholar, tracing the history of Western music, introduces readers to classical music and the most important composers and compositions, explaining the underlying structure and logic of their music. I appreciate he went in chronological order to give the reader an idea of how music changed. I suspect even serious, well-read music aficionados will enjoy this fast read. Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music 9:00, 20th July 2017. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music at Amazon.com. Each brief essay includes a biographical sketch, commentary on the historical period and the relationship of the composer to his (and they’re all, alas, men) predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. I was so disappointed in his assessment of early music that I didnt give it much of a chance, but this book actually functions really well in giving people new to classical music a basic idea of whats going on. In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to … The New Analog: Listening and Reconnecting in a Digital World. Eine wunderschöne Lektüre für jeden der ein bisschen von Musik versteht. Excellent introduction to classical music. Swafford introduces major periods of classical music, then offers short bios of the major composers. Buy Language of the Spirit : An Introduction to Classical Music at Walmart.com Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah, from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre. I cannot recommend it enough and will use it in the future as a reference tool in my writing. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Jan Swafford. In Language of the Spirit, rewned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Sunny, positive and insightful, Mr Swaffords only blatant vitriol is for contemporary Phillip Glass (...tireless self-promoter...relentlessly repetitious...monotonous). In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. Unable to add item to List. Swafford, Jan., Book. If you have an interest in classical music, this book is a great introduction to its great composers and the genre as a whole. It is easy to understand and very readable. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Language of the Spirit An Introduction to Classical Music by Jan Swafford 9781541414860 (CD-Audio, 2017). You’ll end up making a listening list. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah , from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre. Unlike various listener’s guides and encyclopedias, this book … His own preferences are here, but the too-typical snobbery about the stuff he doesn’t prefer is absent and unmissed. Plus it comes with a suggested playlist which allows you to hear the music the author discusses. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah , from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre. Philip Borg-Wheeler. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. This is another book that caught my eye in the new books area of our city's main library. This book introduced me to some beautiful music that was entirely new to me. Swafford is also priceless on entry-level music theory. This is a wonderful book about classical music! In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah, from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre. For many of us, classical music is something serious -- something we study in school, something played by cultivated musicians at fancy gatherings. Very well written, informative, and passionate. I would recommend this to the casual listener or someone wanting to get their pallets wet. An excellence introduction to Classical music, it breezes over technical stuff, only explaining what the neophyte needs to know. His dry sense of humor and little anecdotes bring his subjects and time periods to light quickly and without pretension. The book is written with the novice in mind ( I have no musical training and no knowledge of music history). He recommends that the reader listen to some of the pieces of music provided in the book. Not just good, but great. By Jan Swafford.Basic; 321 pages; $28. Mr. Stafford the academic, jealous and angry at Mr. Glass’ popular (such that it is) following? What a fun book. Each brief essay includes a biographical sketch, commentary on the historical period and the relationship of the composer to his (and theyre all, alas, men) predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. His passion for the subject is infectious, and Im no casual classical listener. Taking the time to listen to all the music he suggests and making a playlist turned this into a mini independent study. This book also comes across quite well as an audiobook, thanks to an excellent narrator. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah , from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre. This is exactly what I was looking for, and I think this is the book to recommend on this subject. Sein Schreibstil ist eine herrliche Mischung aus Fakten in der Musik verbunden mit dem gesamt geschichtlichen Zusammenhang in dem die jeweilige Musik entstanden ist und das macht es so spannend! Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. I previously enjoyed his long and insightful works on Brahms and Beethoven as well as his Vintage Guide to Classical Music. from the Yale School of Music.His teachers included Earl Kim at Harvard, Jacob Druckman at Yale, and Betsy Jolas at Tanglewood. Language of the Spirit: an Introduction to Classical Music. Bill Gates, tech pioneer, co-founder of Microsoft, and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is an avid reader who people follow... To see what your friends thought of this book, Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah, from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY JAN 9, 2017 In this delightful primer to classical music, This book will go down as one of the three most important books in my library! 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