Classical Music Fd, 2e

by David Pogue, Scott Speck

Haydn, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms, oh, my! The beginner's guide to classical music Classical Music For Dummies is a friendly, funny, easy-to-understand guide to composers, instruments, orchestras, concerts, recordings, and more. Classical music is widely considered one of the pinnacles of human achievement, and this informative guide will shows you just how beautiful and rewarding it can be. You'll learn how Bach is different from Beethoven, how Mozart is different still, and why not all "classical" music is actually Classical if it's really Baroque or Romantic. You'll be introduced to the composers and their work, and discover the groundbreaking pieces that shake the world every time they're played. Begin building your classical music library with the essential recordings that define orchestral, choral, and operatic beauty as you get acquainted with the orchestras and musicians that bring the composers to life.

Whether you want to play classical music or just learn more about it, Classical Music For Dummies will teach you everything you need to know to get the most out of this increasingly popular genre.


Distinguish flute from piccolo, violin from viola, and trumpet from trombone Learn the difference between overtures, requiems, arias, and masses Explore the composers that shaped music as we know it Discover the recordings your music library cannot be without Classical music has begun sneaking into the mainstream -- if your interest has been piqued, there's never been a better time to develop an appreciation for this incredibly rich, complex, and varied body of work. Classical Music For Dummies lays the groundwork, and demonstrates just how amazing classical music can be.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Reference, Classical Music, Art, Education, History

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

David Pogue, Yale '85, is the weekly personal-technology columnist for the New York Times and an Emmy award-winning tech correspondent for CBS News. His funny tech videos appear weekly on CNBC. And with 3 million books in print, he is also one of the world's bestselling how- to authors. He wrote or co-wrote seven books in the "For Dummies" series (including Macs, Magic, Opera, and Classical Music). In 1999, he launched his own series of amusing, practical, and user-friendly computer books called Missing Manuals, which now includes 100 titles.

David and his wife, Jennifer Pogue, MD, live in Connecticut with their three young children.

Reviews

[Marleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun, friendly and well-thought-out guidebook (for non-initated) has been on my bedside table for the better part of 2011. Each night I would read snippets and get a better understanding of what classical music is all about. For an entire year I would pick 1 composer every two or three weeks, read about him and then go to the library to get his main work on multiple CDs. I would listen to the various pieces (on my iPod, at home, sometimes at work, or in the car), then I'd move on to another composer. It's remarkable that composing music is indeed a men's business.
My personal foray & exploration into the world of classical music is far from over. It will take me years and years (and years!) to get a broader knowledge of classical music, but that's the fun part. There's so much to discover!
When I was younger I remember not liking this music and not being open at all for this genre, but strangely enough now that I turned 50 I'm totally embracing it. I think people are open to things when the time is right, I guess. Like a switch that's being turned on.
So far, I'm enjoying Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Mozart, Bach and Smetana best of all, but there's many other great composers to discover! Classical music is a never-ending treasure-hunt and I'm glad I caught the bug.

[Jasmine Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quite a fun read. The authors, unlike some other classical music historians, try very hard to make it fun and user-friendly, and in my case it worked! Readers will laugh when they read this fun book. It covers the history of classical music, why it's important, concert guidelines, and much, much, more!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loves it. Great humour and a good amount of info. Just what I was after.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this would be a good introduction into classical music. Luckily I had already watched a course on classical music (How to Listen to Great Music by Robert Greenberg) and so was familiar with a number of the great composers and pieces of music this book discusses. There are a wide variety of topics covered and though it is more introductory in nature I learned a ton and recommend it to anyone who wants to get into classical music. I really enjoyed looking up the different pieces of music recommended in the book and listening to them as I read it. I have now slowly begun to be able to identify the kinds of classical music, or rather concert music, that I like.

[Ruth Donigian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lives up to its name: Classical Music…for dummies.

[Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource covering structure, history, theory, culture and performance.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a useful book. Although we have been going to classical music concerts for a couple of years now, I still consider myself a classical music rookie and not particularly knowledgeable. Now I feel like I have a good foundation to build on as I learn more about classical music. One of the most helpful sections for me was the history of classical music, which surveyed major movements in music with spotlights on the important composers from each period. I learned that I had no good idea of when Mozart or Strauss was alive, but now I know. Another useful section contained information on the structures of composition types, such as symphonies, rhapsodies, and concertos. With knowledge from this section, especially, I feel like I will better understand the music at the next concert we attend.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would love to take a college-level course from these guys. This book is really funny, not to mention well-written and laid out, fascinating at times, interesting at others, and a great way to learn a topic I have very little experience with. We read the 80 page chapter on the composers of classical music during dinner with the kids. The stories about the composer's lives were very entertaining.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, informative, and easy to read! This book is great for anyone who wants to learn A LOT of things, but not too in depth. It gives a nice overview of classical music. Really good to use as a kind of handbook.

[Quang-Thanh Tran · Rating 4 out of 5]

It should be a very quick read. The book provides enough info, not too much, not too little, just right amount of it for you to enjoy classical music and show off to other people. I love it. The only downside to me is that the CD only contains only 8 mp3s while I was expecting more of them.

[Doc Kinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice introduction to both the music and the theory. I may have understood more music theory here than before. The included CD was just good enough for illustrative purposes.

[Michael Romeo Talks Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good general overview of Classical music; a good launching pad into further study. Its one drawback is the heavy peppering of extremely lame humor.

[Hom Sack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be the best book on Classical Music. The authors make the subject easy to understand and enjoy. Added are great humor about music and musicians. Just delightful.

[Anna McKinstrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and funny!

[Dawn Livingston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, like "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Classical Music: But Were Too Afraid to Ask", this book is overwhelming. Again I skimmed. Again I think of this book as more of a reference tool, something to own that will guide you over time.

Not sure which book I liked more. Both were informative, gave info on the kinds of music, the different and significant composers, the history of classical music and had sections I had no interest in. A section in this book got too detailed in the info about the different groups of instruments in an orchestra and it took up significant space.

I would recommend borrowing both from your local library, seeing which you prefer and then buying it on ebay, of course. And when looking for pieces of classical music or composers, as I did with the other book's review I'm going to suggest you get... I don't know what you call it, a compilation. Decaf Classic, Cappuccino Classic and others.

[La lepisma libraia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volevo dare un senso al sottofondo musicale della mia (precaria) attività traduttoria. Do un bel 5 perché, da assoluta profana in materia (pardon, negata), un senso l'ho trovato eccome. Sono poche centinaia di pagine che contengono di tutto un po': storia e teoria della musica, biografie dei compositori più rilevanti, descrizione degli strumenti musicali, galateo da concerti. Come ciliegina sulla torta, il manuale mette a disposizione una pagina web con 9 brani gratuiti da ascoltare e destina un intero capitolo alla loro analisi, sviscerando un brano alla volta fin nei minimi dettagli. Aggiungeteci una spolverata di umorismo e quello che vien fuori dal forno è un prodotto che non può mancare a chi si occupa di musica classica (le risate son garantite) o per chi, come me, si è avvicinato a questo mondo per viuzze traverse.

[Tiago Garrão · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very relaxed way of writing about a concept such as classical music, which is so many times (falsely) conceived as a boring, and formal kind of music. To counter those kinds of ideas this book offers a description of many aspects of classical music (such as its history, the different types of music, the structure of each kind, and even a bit of the most basic theory behind classical composition) in a dynamic way that keeps the reader interested (or even hooked!!). If you don’t know much about all european music composed before the 1950s I definitely recommend you this book, as it is a great starting point for your journey (and believe me when I say it is difficult to find one in the vastness that is the world of classical music).

[Patrick Macke · Rating 3 out of 5]

New to classical, looking for some basic starting points, definitions, insights, some of that is here ... The history section, "field guide to the orchestra," "spotting a sonata," - well done and very helpful; there are some good musical recommendations here as well ... Still, a lot of wasted space, a lot of bad jokes, I would have to say, however, that I'm not as big of a dummy now

[Abby Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can unequivocally recommend this book to anyone, no matter their interest in history, music, or culture. It’s that funny. If more nonfiction books were written like this, the world would watch less TV. I don’t think it’s gimmicky to write nonfiction in an entertaining fashion. It’s genius. Not to mention, we remember the things that entertain us.

[Nathan Douthit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first exposure to this series, and as a complete novice I found the books extremely helpful. I would recommend it to any one who enjoyed music as it served to deepen my love for the classics.

[Bernish Tongbram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read for a beginner like me

The authors are funny. I bet they are great teachers. There is learning, there are jokes and for a subject that sounds so grave, that's a lot to ask for.

Love the tiny music Library they helped me create.

[Carlos Piva · Rating 4 out of 5]

very informative in many ways
something to have and consult from time to time

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good!

I never thought I’d say this, but I think I’ll see if there are any other “For Dummies” books I’d like to read.

[Mark Kloha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is kind of funny. They cover what most people think is a serious topic and inject their humor into the world of classical music.

[Harold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of excellent music: movements, composers, instruementation, et cetera with a CD of sample pieces

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough overview for beginners

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It’s a quick read covering a broad topic in just the right amount of depth and detail.

[Seth J. Vogelman · Rating 2 out of 5]

A facile book at best for those who know nothing of the genre. For anyone else you are probably not a dummy.

[Rishi Thulasiraman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd recommend this book for the recommendations provided in Appendix 1.

[yamiyoghurt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was inspired to learn more about classical music after watching Twoset Violin, and this book was a great beginner introduction to it. The book is accessible and a pleasure to read.

[Muyu]

@2018-10-28 16:45:07