Music as an Art (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781472955715)

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.

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, recognizing both good taste and bad, establishing musical values, as well as musical pleasures.

Author: Roger Scruton
ISBN-10: 1472955714
ISBN-13: 9781472955715
Publisher: Bloomsbury Continuum
Language: English
Published: 11/06/2018
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.40h x 6.20w x 0.90d

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 06/04/2018
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2018
Library Journal 10/01/2018 pg. 61
Choice 03/01/2019