Studying Music History: Learning, Reasoning, and Writing About Music History and Literature

by David Poultney

Studying Music History: Learning, Reasoning and Writing About Music History and Literature: Second Edition develops a thorough knowledge of genres, composers and compositions, as well as skills for organizing, assimilating, applying and writing using this knowledge. The text maintains a strict three-fold emphasis that includes (1) a systematic approach to the data of music history and literature, (2) identification and interpretation of unidentified music samples and excerpts from several kinds of historical documents, and (3) properly written expression of musical knowledge and judgment through small-scale writing projects.

Genres: Music

272 pages, Paperback

Published August 17, 1995

Reviews

[Deb Gesualdo]

This book is the reason I was able to place out of the music history review class in grad school and, for that reason, I love it. After having been out of college for a couple of years one gets rusty on some of their music history knowledge!

[John]

An absolutely invaluable resource for those needing a quick (albeit specialist) reference. If you don't have time to re-read your college music history text, this should be your go-to. Includes practice examples for score id and source reading id, as well as several helpful tables clarifying stylistic aspects of the different periods.

[Reena]

This is one of the best books I've encountered for studying and grasping something as vast as the history of western music. I highly recommend it for anyone who needs to cram music history into their head in a short period of time.. it gives you a very good framework to start with.

[Patrick]

Although it's out of date now, this is one of the best (IMO, the best) one volume overviews/study guides of music history available. An excellent starting point for reviews for grad school entrance exams, or even comprehensives. It is rather weak on 20th century and beyond.

[Jim West]

Dr. Poultney was a wonderful teacher of music history. This book is just the way he taught his classes.