Music: A Very Short Introduction

Presenting an introduction to music, this book draws on many examples ranging from Beethoven to the Spice Girls to Chinese zither music. It also prompts us to call on our personal musical experiences in order to think critically about the roles of the performer and the listener, and about music as a commodity and an experience.

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This stimulating Very Short Introduction to music invites us to really think about music and the values and qualities we ascribe to it.

The world teems with different kinds of music-traditional, folk, classical, jazz, rock, pop-and each type of music tends to come with its own way of thinking. Drawing on a wealth of accessible examples ranging from Beethoven to Chinese zither music, Nicholas Cook attempts to provide a framework for thinking about all music. By examining the personal, social, and cultural values that music embodies, the book reveals the shortcomings of traditional conceptions of music, and sketches a more
inclusive approach emphasizing the role of performers and listeners.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.