Description
Book SynopsisIn the latest of his books exploring a lifetime's passion for music, bestselling author and philosopher Roger Scruton brings his immense critical faculties to bear on a panoply of different musical genres, both contemporary and classical.
Music as an Art begins by examining music through a philosophical lens, engaging in discussions about tonality, music and the moral life, music and cognitive science and German idealism, as well as recalling the author's struggle to encourage his students to distinguish the qualities of good music. Scruton then explains via erudite chapters on Schubert, Britten, Rameau, opera and film how we can develop greater judgement in music, recognising both good taste and bad, establishing musical values, as well as musical pleasures.
As Scruton argues in this book, in earlier times, our musical culture had secure foundations in the church, the concert hall and the home; in the ceremonies and celebrations of ordinary life, religion and manners. Yet we no longer live in that world. Fewer people now play instruments and music is, for many, a form of largely solitary enjoyment. As he shows in Music as an Art, we live at a critical time for classical music, and this book is an important contribution to the debate, of which we stand in need, concerning the place of music in Western civilization.
Trade ReviewScruton fastidiously argues for tonality and expression as significant components of musical compositions in this enlightening academic work. * Publishers Weekly *
This is as clear an argument for the value of Western classical music as one will find. Highly recommended. * Choice *
Table of ContentsIntroduction PART I: PHILOSOPHICAL INVESTIGATIONS 1 When is a Tune? 2 Music and Cognitive Science 3 Music and the Moral Life 4 Music and the Transcendental 5 Tonality 6 German Idealism
PART II: CRITICAL EXPLORATIONS 7 Franz Schubert and the
Quartettsatz 8 Rameua the Musician 9 Britten's Dirge 10 David Matthews 11 Reflections on
Deaths in Venice 12 Pierre Boulez 13 Film Music 14 The Assault on Opera 15 Nietzsche on Wagner 16 The Music of the Future 17 The Culture of Pop
Bibliography Acknowledgements Index A Note on the Author
