The Classical Music Book

11

FOREWORD

Music has a certain magic. It can transport us to a

different world, drive us to dance, or remind us of lost

loved ones. A single chord can reduce us to tears. Far

from being an exclusive, elite preserve, the kind of

music that provided people in the Western world with

pleasure and inspiration for most of the past 1,

years—and now commonly known as classical

music—is still delighting listeners today. It toys with

our emotions in our favorite movies; its symphonic

swells add drama to the action of computer games;

and it hides in the structure and melodies of everyday

pop songs. Its magic is of a very special sort—one that

has grown and evolved over the centuries, shaped

by politics, geography, religion—and the particular

genius of a multitude of great composers.

Sometimes it’s enough just to listen and let the

music wash over and through you without asking

why, when, or how, this piece originated. However,

the classical music canon can seem intimidatingly

vast, encompassing many different styles and genres.

For example, the early music of the medieval church—

plainsong and chant—is a sonic world away from

the waterfalls of sound created by the 19th-century

symphony orchestras employed by romantic composers,

such as Tchaikovsky and Brahms, or the atonal

experimentation of Schoenberg in the early 20th

century. At times exploring new sound worlds can

be unfamiliar, or even a little uncomfortable, as the

composer may have intended.

With The Classical Music Book, you will discover the

context of the great musical works of the last 1,

years. Understanding who the composers were and

why they were writing can be a revelation and can add

a new layer of enjoyment and insight to your listening.

A familiar piece such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons takes on

a whole new resonance when you learn that Vivaldi

demonstrated the true potential of the concerto form

for the first time and that his reputation spread from

Italy to Germany, where he inspired a young organist

named Johann Sebastian Bach.

You might know that Beethoven was deaf later in life,

but learning which of his works he composed yet never

actually heard adds a poignancy and an increased

sense of wonder to the listening experience. Realizing

that Mozart was effectively an 18th-century pop star

might convince you to give the Marriage of Figaro

another try. Power, patronage, and censorship have

each played a part in the genesis of some of the best-

loved pieces of music. As you will discover, the real-life

drama and scandals often kept pace with the musical

dramatics on the stage and in the score.

These, then, are the worlds that the book you are

holding invites you to explore. It will be an invaluable

companion as it takes you on a journey through the

different periods of musical history, deepening your

understanding and appreciation of some of classical

music’s greatest works. It will delight those of you who

already love classical music but may have never—until

now—come to grips with the component elements of

musical vocabulary and theory. And best of all, it will,

I hope, encourage endless hours of new listening.

Classical music, like all music, has passion at its heart.

It’s why the great works of the past have endured for

centuries, why contemporary composers still strive to

match and challenge that beauty, and why millions of

us love to play, listen, and be transported by it today.

There is so much wonderful, passionate music out

there—let this book open your eyes and your ears to it.

Katie Derham

Classical music commentator

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