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 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 worth and quality exists. In any case, the feelings are ours--some of them universal to humans, some individual. 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. Witty, welcoming and vastly knowledgeable, Swafford fills 300 pages with a lively introduction to the best music on the planet. However, it introduced me to Ligeti so was well worth the purchase. According to Swafford it is intended to be a basic reference not a scholarly work. 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. 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. Refresh and try again. The author spends a great deal of effort trying to justify the hostility of composers to the interests of audiences while they simultaneously demand respect, money, and honor for their often ugly and discordant music that actively spites the expectations and standards of audiences and tends not to find a paying audience for predictable and understandable reasons. Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2017. 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. 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. Mr. Swafford is witty, down-to-earth, opinionated, and effortlessly erudite. The book is written with the novice in mind ( I have no musical training and no knowledge of music history). Please try again. I purchased this book after reading WQXR's "A Hand-Picked Gift Guide For the Classical Music Lover On Your List" (Nov. 22, 2017). 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. These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers. He has a tendency just to string adjectives together when reviewing musical works that he likes, but I can't complain too much. Plus it comes with a suggested playlist which allows you to hear the music the author discusses. 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. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. The Jazz of Physics. Solid addition to music library, Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2018. "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. 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. Explores the differences in eras, what to listen for in select pieces; with absorbing composer biographies all done in a very entertaining way. LibraryThing is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers Such a treat. This is essential reading for anyone looking for a somewhat-better-than-basic education in classical music. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Language of the Spirit does exactly what its subtitle promises—to introduce the reader to Classical music, starting with the beginnings and ending in current times. Language of the Spirit is a short and breezy survey of the Western musical tradition from earliest times to the present. 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. I appreciate he went in chronological order to give the reader an idea of how music changed. Swafford provides witty commentary and intriguing anecdotes about the composers. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. 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. 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. I appreciate he went in chronological order to give the reader an idea of how music changed. Good guide to classical music. 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). and D.M.A. Unable to add item to List. The author does an excellent job of meeting the goal in this overview of the genre. He has written biographies of Charles Ives, Brahms, and Beethoven, all well received, as well as a guide to classical music. Mr. Swafford will take you on a grand journey, and you will NOT be disappointed! 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. Buy a cheap copy of Language of the Spirit: An Introduction... book by Jan Swafford. A preeminent composer, music scholar, and biographer presents an engaging and accessible introduction to classical music. Please try again. 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. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. I suspect even serious, well-read music aficionados will enjoy this fast read. Please try your request again later. Even while not listening to the music, those guides are good reading. 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. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY JAN 9, 2017 In this delightful primer to classical music, 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. If you are a fan of classical music, as I am, this is a must-read book. The New Analog: Listening and Reconnecting in a Digital World. 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. I previously enjoyed his long and insightful works on Brahms and Beethoven as well as his Vintage Guide to Classical Music. Good guide to classical music. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. But first and foremost he has taught music for nearly 40 years. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. One of those books that you take off the shelf and immediately know you have to read. A really great introduction to western classical music. This is another book that caught my eye in the new books area of our city's main library. This book is a highly readable, brief history of classical music. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah, from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the … If you are a classical music connoisseur you probably won’t learn anything you didn’t already know, but surely this book can be enjoyed by all regardless of their familiarity with the subject. In most instances, his states are close to mine (I can't say he was right, because taste is personal). Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2019. 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. 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. 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. These well written vignettes about orchestral music enhance my understanding. If you have an interest in classical music, this book is a great introduction to its great composers and the genre as a whole. Language of the spirit : an introduction to classical music, Jan Swafford Resource Information The item Language of the spirit : an introduction to classical music, Jan Swafford represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. This book also comes across quite well as an audiobook, thanks to an excellent narrator. Jan Swafford Basic Books Hardback, £22 ***** EDITOR’S CHOICE. A must have book if you love music history. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. I cannot recommend it enough and will use it in the future as a reference tool in my writing. They share a broad scope and reveal impeccable scholarship. Buy Language of the Spirit : An Introduction to Classical Music at Walmart.com His dry sense of humor and little anecdotes bring his subjects and time periods to light quickly and without pretension. 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. If you already love classical music, or if you're curious and want to explore it -- you could not have a better guide than Jan Swafford. Click to read more about Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music by Jan Swafford. Ive been using this for my classes and Im finding it to be much better than I originally remember from my first reading. This book was immensely disappointing, but for reasons that are not entirely surprising. 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