Classical Music: A New Way of Listening

by Alexander Waugh

Here is an innovative and thoroughly enjoyable approach to demystifying classical music for the devotee and the novice alike. Consisting of a fully illustrated book with unique musical timelines and an accompanying CD, it teaches the reader to navigate any piece of music--from operas to piano sonatas to complete orchestral movements. Over 200 color photos.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Reference

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 1995

About the author

Alexander Evelyn Michael Waugh (born 1963) is an English eccentric, businessman, writer, critic, journalist, composer, cartoonist, record producer and television presenter. He is best known for his biography of the Wittgenstein family (The House of Wittgenstein: A Family at War) published in 2009.

He was a founding director and Chairman of Xebras Management Ltd, the now-dissolved digital media company. He has also served on the boards of Concert Agency, Manygate Management Ltd, and of the award winning Travelman Publishing Ltd. He is currently an independent Non-Executive Director of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent introduction to classical music for novice listeners. What separates this book from other similar books is that it teaches the reader what to listen for - mostly the sounds that change emotion or mood.

No prior musical training is necessary. There's very little jargon. Everything is clearly explained. The accompanying CD is essential because it contains the musical excerpts described in the book.

The book is also a reasonably quick read. It's not dense text from beginning to end. The book has lots of pictures from the period the music was written, and also diagrams and illustrations demonstrating the author's key points. I felt the pictures, illustrations, and diagrams added to the book's appeal.

I enjoyed listening to classical music much more after reading this book.

[Piet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you expect is found in this book.
A very friendly guide to the layman in the field of music.
Very helpful and instructive

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

No fault of the book but the library did not give me the CDso rather a struggle with Spotify and guessing the timings. Useful and instructive though.