How to Understand Music: A Concise Course in Musical Intelligence and Taste (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

W. S. B. Mathews

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0267790902 ISBN 13: 9780267790906

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Master the language of music with practical, beginner-friendly lessons.

This concise course invites readers to hear music more clearly by studying phrasing, form, and the inner life of musical works. It starts with simple observations and builds toward a deep, attentive listening experience, using worked examples and guided listening.

This edition presents a structured study across eight parts, from fundamental phrases and periods to the meaning of style and content in classical and romantic music. It emphasizes how music communicates through mood, imagination, and feeling, not just technique. Ideal for students, teachers, and curious readers who want to deepen their listening and taste.

• Learn to identify periods, phrases, cadences, and modulations by listening to carefully chosen examples.
• Explore how form and content interact in music, from simple tunes to major works.
• Discover how rhythm, harmony, and melody shape musical expression and perception.
• Gain practical guidance for appreciating art, instead of relying on theory alone.

Ideal for readers of music history and theory who want a clear, hands-on approach to listening and understanding music.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0267790902
• ISBN 13: 9780267790906
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 653