Thank you Leah - this is a great idea! If I may, can you recommend any books on musical theory for absolute novices? I've been listening to classical music for 30+ years, but I've never had a music lesson in my life (not even in school). I'd love to understand the language of music a little better (or, at all...).
I would start with the ABRSM theory grade books. They explain everything clearly and have practical examples, and they give a good basis to then move on to more advanced books!
I realise you did not address this question to me, but could I also recommend Aaron Copland's What to Listen For in Music. It's perpetually underrated. It's like a having a private class from the composer, written in a down-to-earth conversational manner of a person who by all accounts was a very kind and open-minded person. It gives a great overview of musical theory.
Apologies for not responding to this, especially since I requested it! The list you have put together is invaluable. I wanted to get into it and reply with a reflection on some of it, but two under 3s have taken all my time, so it might have to wait for 2024. Thank you so much for doing this. It is greatly appreciated.
Thank you, I look forward to making some new discoveries from this list! Your mention of Rethinking Music brought back memories of my postgraduate studies in the early noughties. I wonder what a new collection of this kind would look like? Would there be chapters on biography, hermeneutic studies of "musical works", jostling for attention alongside performance studies, ecocriticism, greater attention to popular musics, ethnomusicology, etc?? I do look out for synoptic overviews of musicology to understand how the discipline is changing but they seem few and far between, perhaps I'm just not looking in the right places? Anyway I have some books to read first!
Thank you Leah - this is a great idea! If I may, can you recommend any books on musical theory for absolute novices? I've been listening to classical music for 30+ years, but I've never had a music lesson in my life (not even in school). I'd love to understand the language of music a little better (or, at all...).
I would start with the ABRSM theory grade books. They explain everything clearly and have practical examples, and they give a good basis to then move on to more advanced books!
Thank you!
I realise you did not address this question to me, but could I also recommend Aaron Copland's What to Listen For in Music. It's perpetually underrated. It's like a having a private class from the composer, written in a down-to-earth conversational manner of a person who by all accounts was a very kind and open-minded person. It gives a great overview of musical theory.
that's helpful, thank you
Apologies for not responding to this, especially since I requested it! The list you have put together is invaluable. I wanted to get into it and reply with a reflection on some of it, but two under 3s have taken all my time, so it might have to wait for 2024. Thank you so much for doing this. It is greatly appreciated.
Thank you, I look forward to making some new discoveries from this list! Your mention of Rethinking Music brought back memories of my postgraduate studies in the early noughties. I wonder what a new collection of this kind would look like? Would there be chapters on biography, hermeneutic studies of "musical works", jostling for attention alongside performance studies, ecocriticism, greater attention to popular musics, ethnomusicology, etc?? I do look out for synoptic overviews of musicology to understand how the discipline is changing but they seem few and far between, perhaps I'm just not looking in the right places? Anyway I have some books to read first!