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Haydn, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms, oh, my! The beginner's guide to classical music

Classical Music For Dummies is a friendly, funny, easy-to-understand guide to composers, instruments, orchestras, concerts, recordings, and more. Classical music is widely considered one of the pinnacles of human achievement, and this informative guide will shows you just how beautiful and rewarding it can be. You'll learn how Bach is different from Beethoven, how Mozart is different still, and why not all "classical" music is actually Classical if it's really Baroque or Romantic. You'll be introduced to the composers and their work, and discover the groundbreaking pieces that shake the world every time they're played. Begin building your classical music library with the essential recordings that define orchestral, choral, and operatic beauty as you get acquainted with the orchestras and musicians that bring the composers to life.

Whether you want to play classical music or just learn more about it, Classical Music For Dummies will teach you everything you need to know to get the most out of this increasingly popular genre.

• Distinguish flute from piccolo, violin from viola, and trumpet from trombone
• Learn the difference between overtures, requiems, arias, and masses
• Explore the composers that shaped music as we know it
• Discover the recordings your music library cannot be without

Classical music has begun sneaking into the mainstream — if your interest has been piqued, there's never been a better time to develop an appreciation for this incredibly rich, complex, and varied body of work. Classical Music For Dummies lays the groundwork, and demonstrates just how amazing classical music can be.

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Learn to:

• Distinguish the different styles of classical music
• Explore composers, instruments, orchestras, concerts, recordings, and more
• Build a fabulous classical music library

The fun and easy way to get the score on classical music

Haydn, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms, oh, my! In this beginner's guide to classical music, you'll discover how Bach is different from Beethoven—and how Mozart is different still. Plus, you'll be introduced to a wealth of classical composers and their work—and figure out just how enjoyable and rewarding classical music can be.

• In the beginning... — get an easily digestible history of music and discover how the Classical style—and those that came before and after it—came to be
• Cogs in the wheel — uncover the role and intricacies of rhythm, pitch, intervals, harmony, tempo, dynamics, and more—and how they work together to make beautiful music
• Strings attached — get the lowdown on what makes up a classical orchestra, from keyboards, strings, and woodwinds to percussion and top (and bottom) brass
• Arrive in style — find the guidance you need to take the intimidation out of attending a classical music concert, from knowing where to sit, what to wear, and when to clap—and everything in between

Open the book and find:

• Plain-English explanations of the different styles of classical music
• The major classical composers and their famous works
• Everything you need to know about rhythm, intervals, and other fundamentals
• Tips on building an impressive classical music library
• The ten most common misconceptions about classical music
• The who's who of today's up-and-coming composers

Information Provided By: :

Introduction 1
 
Part I: Getting Started with Classical Music 5
 
Chapter 1: Prying Open the Classical Music Oyster 7
 
Chapter 2: The Entire History of Music in 80 Pages 13
 
Chapter 3: Knowing How to Spot a Sonata 91
 
Part II: Listen Up! 111
 
Chapter 4: Dave ’n’ Scott’s Ei¿½]Z Concert Survival Guide™ 113
 
Chapter 5: For Your Listening Pleasure 137
 
Intermission: Taking a Backstage Tour 159
 
Part III: A Field Guide to the Orchestra 177
 
Chapter 6: Keyboards & Co 179
 
Chapter 7: Strings Attached 191
 
Chapter 8: Gone with the Woodwinds 209
 
Chapter 9: The Top (and Bottom) Brass 223
 
Chapter 10: Percussion’s Greatest Hits 235
 
Part IV: Peeking into the Composer’s Brain 247
 
Chapter 11: The Dreaded Music Theory Chapter 249
 
Chapter 12: Once More, with Feeling: Tempo, Dynamics, and Orchestration 289
 
Part V: The Part of Tens 297
 
Chapter 13: The Ten Most Common Misconceptions about Classical Music 299
 
Chapter 14: The Ten Best Musical Terms for Cocktail Parties 305
 
Chapter 15: Ten Great Classical Music Jokes 311
 
Chapter 16: Ten Ways to Get More Music in Your Life 317
 
Part VI: The Appendixes 325
 
Appendix A: Starting a Classical Music Collection 327
 
Appendix B: Classical Music Timeline 333
 
Appendix C: Glossary 341
 
Index 347

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