The Friendly Guide to Music

by Darren Henley

This book accompanies the Classic FM radio series presented by Tony Robinson in 2006/7 and is a partner volume to the Friendly Guide composers' books (Classic FM Friendly Guides to Mozart, Beethoven and Elgar). The Friendly Guide to Music fills a gap in the market - an accessible guide to, and history of, the classical music that is played on the station. The accompanying CD contains illustrations of the music, with reference to the Classic FM 'Hall of Fame' (a yearly survey of the nation's classical music favourites).

Genres: Music, Art, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Darren Henley OBE is chief executive of Arts Council England. His two independent government reviews into music and cultural education resulted in England's first National Plan for Music Education, new networks of Music Education Hubs, Cultural Education Partnerships and Heritage Schools, the Museums and Schools programme, the BFI Film Academy and the National Youth Dance Company. Before joining the Arts Council, he led Classic FM for fifteen years. He holds degrees in politics from the University of Hull, in management from the University of South Wales and in history of art from the University of Buckingham. A recipient of the British Academy President's Medal for his contributions to music education, music research and the arts, his books include The Virtuous Circle: Why Creativity and Cultural Education Count and The Arts Dividend: Why Investment in Culture Pays.

Reviews

[Bertie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put it down (well I did once); read it over 2 days.
SO easy and enjoyable to read. The brief biographies peppered with amusing composer quirks all set within the wider social perspectives of their day meant I learned, was entertained and I felt great satisfaction at my “achievement”!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what I expected really. It's more a mini biography of composers through the ages rather than a detailed discussion of their music (although that is clearly mentioned as well obviously). The recommended examples of each composer's output are usually the more obvious ones supporting its links to Classic FM I suppose. That doesn't relegate it to being a worthless guide however. The facts I learned were often surprising...I didn't know Dvorak was an obsessive trainspotter or that Vaughan Williams' uncle was Charles Darwin for example. Perhaps my ignorance helped here. An enjoyable easy read anyway and I will soon be re-reading to pick up on and listen to the pieces of music I haven't yet sampled.

[Kevin de Ataíde · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to non-musicians to 'classical music,' instrumental or vocal or both, which Mr. Henley is quick to demonstrate was the pop music of its day. Until, that is, the late twentieth century, when the term 'pop music' was specifically assigned and separated from the 'classical.'



Unfortunately, classical music is seen as somewhat elitist. This, it seems to me is because of its arcane terminology and the way it is arranged. Modern society simply doesn't understand these, as don't I. Hence the usefulness of books such as this one.



The book is loosely arranged into various periods of music with distinctive sounds: the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, etc. There are familiar names and unfamiliar. There is a list of music from film, a Classic FM top 100 list and, interestingly, an amusing but short section on what the composers had to say about each other.



The resources section is very useful. This book is, after all, only an introduction to the subject and a launching pad into adagios, concertos and canons. It is a worthy advertisement for Classic FM. So get listening. I'll make it easier: click here [http://www.classicfm.co.uk/].

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A jolly jaunt through history, made up of loads of potted biographies of composers. As everyone knows, 99% of classical music is deeply boring and has to be set to an exciting action film to give it any kind of emotional resonance, but this book does its best to beat knowledge into our languidly uncaring fore brain.

Amusingly in the forward Tony Robinson seems to think that Blue made "Great Music that everyone should hear". Hip with the kids or what.

[Yana Seredinskaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Коротенькое и очень занимательное введение в классическую музыку: автор бегло пробежался по основным стилям и известным композиторам (которых упомянуто довольно много для такой маленькой книжки:)

Но форма подачи хороша: мне очень понравилось)