The Oxford History of Western Music

The universally acclaimed and award-winning Oxford History of Western Music is a magisterial five-volume survey of the traditions of Western music by one of the most prominent and provocative musicologists of our time, Richard Taruskin.Now this renow... Read more

The universally acclaimed and award-winning Oxford History of Western Music is a magisterial five-volume survey of the traditions of Western music by one of the most prominent and provocative musicologists of our time, Richard Taruskin.Now this renowned work is available in paperback - both as a set and (for the first time) individually. This first volume examines classical music from the earliest works to the end of the sixteenth century. Taking a critical perspective, Taruskin sets the details of music, the chronological sweepof figures, works, and musical ideas, within the larger context of world affairs and cultural history. He 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 understoodit. He also describes how the context of each stylistic period - key cultural, historical, social, economic, and scientific events--influenced and directed compositional choices.Attractively illustrated and laced with brilliant observations, memorable musical analysis, and a panoramic sense of the interactions between history, culture, politics, art, literature, religion, and music, this volume is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand classical music. Less