Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music -- Jan Swafford, Hardcover

A preeminent composer, music scholar, and biographer presents an engaging and accessible introduction to classical music

For many of us, classical music is something serious -- something we study in school, something played by cultivated musicians at fancy gatherings. In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah, from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre. He traces the history of Western music, introduces readers to the most important composers and compositions, and explains the underlying structure and logic of their music.

Language of the Spirit is essential reading for anyone who has ever wished to know more about this sublime art.

Author: Jan Swafford
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 04/11/2017
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9780465097548

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 01/09/2017
Choice 09/01/2017

About the Author
Jan Swafford is a preeminent composer and music scholar and the author of bestselling The Vintage Guide to Classical Music. A regular contributor to Slate, the Guardian, and the Boston Globe and a former professor of composition at the Boston Conservatory, Swafford lives in Medford, Massachusetts.