The Timid Soul's Guide to Classical Music

Classical music can make a strong impression on you even if you don't understand the techniques behind it. Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 has brought tears to the eyes of people who don't know the first thing about harmony and can't tell an oboe from a clarinet. But the more you know about how classical music is put together, and the greater familiarity you develop with a particular composer's background and artistic environment, the more you understand it. That leads you into a deeper and...
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Classical music can make a strong impression on you even if you don't understand the techniques behind it. Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 has brought tears to the eyes of people who don't know the first thing about harmony and can't tell an oboe from a clarinet. But the more you know about how classical music is put together, and the greater familiarity you develop with a particular composer's background and artistic environment, the more you understand it. That leads you into a deeper and deeper appreciation of something that at first you can only describe as "pretty" -- or "too long." This book, drawn from articles published in The Arizona Daily Star in 1991 and 1992, can help you understand and appreciate classical music.