A Popular History of Music: Musical Instruments, Ballet, and Opera, From St. Ambrose to Mozart (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

James E. Matthew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0266444628 ISBN 13: 9780266444626

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

From ancient rhythms to grand operas, discover how music shaped culture and minds across centuries.

This comprehensive history traces how music grew from early church chant to the rise of opera and its many forms. It surveys instruments, performance venues, and the people who created and performed music in Europe, offering clear context without getting lost in theory. The book ties together social change, technology, and art to show why music matters today as much as it did in the past.

Explore a timeline spanning Roman times, the medieval church, and the great families of German and Italian music through the eighteenth century. Read about influential composers, the development of notation, and the birth of public concerts and opera houses. The coverage blends lively anecdotes with accessible explanations to illuminate the world of Western music.

• Learn how different instruments and vocal styles evolved across eras
• Meet key figures, from early chant masters to renowned opera composers
• Understand how social and political changes influenced musical practice
• See the origins of major forms, like opera and oratorio, in historical context

Ideal for readers curious about music history, cultural development, and the stories behind the sounds that shaped Western art.

A Popular History of Music: Musical Instruments, Ballet, and Opera, From St. Ambrose to Mozart by James E. Matthew

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0266444628
• ISBN 13: 9780266444626
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 340