The Oxford History of Western Music: 6-Volume Set

by Richard Taruskin

The Oxford History of Western Music is a magisterial survey of the traditions of Western music by one of the most prominent and provocative musicologists of our time. This text illuminates, through a representative sampling of masterworks, those themes, styles, and currents that give shape and
direction to each musical age. Taking a critical perspective, this text sets the details of music, the chronological sweep of figures, works, and musical ideas, within the larger context of world affairs and cultural history. Written by an authoritative, opinionated, and controversial figure in
musicology, The Oxford History of Western Music provides a critical aesthetic position with respect to individual works, a context in which each composition may be evaluated and remembered. Taruskin combines an emphasis on structure and form with a discussion of relevant theoretical concepts in each
age, to illustrate how the music itself works, and how contemporaries heard and understood it. It also describes how the context of each stylistic period--key cultural, historical, social, economic, and scientific events--influenced and directed compositional choices.

Genres: Music, History, Nonfiction, Reference

4272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Stephen]

may never get to read all this, but music is so fascinating to me.

[Giles Revelstoke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second only to The New Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians as a reference source.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The erasure of anyone other than white men is astounding

[Ishmael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exemplary look at Western music, it is unmatched in its scale and content. Taruskin is unparalleled in his writing/narrative style in the field of musicology. You must read!

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read the most part of the third volume for a project I had to do about Nationalism in Music. It was very helpful!! I really enjoyed reading it. I will definitely read the rest of the volumes when I have more time!

[AskHistorians]

This set of reference books is very highly acclaimed. Taruskin emphasizes both the context behind stylistic periods of music, and the theoretical musical concepts of each period. The five volumes cover Western music from the beginnings of Western musical notation up to the late twentieth century.

[Lufan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is extraordinary, beyond so many models of writing music history. It really puts music in a multiple layered context. The music analysis is also insightful and interesting