Understanding Music: Philosophy and Interpretation

✍ Scribed by Roger Scruton

• Publisher: Continuum
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 253
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Roger Scruton first addressed this topic in his celebrated book The Aesthetics of Music (OUP) and in this new book he applies the theory to the practice and examines a number of composers and musical forms. His continued fascination with Wagner provides much interesting content but he also deals near-death blows to his favorite targets like Pierre Boulez and Hoagy Carmichael. His legal encounter with The Pet Shop Boys is well documented (they sued him for libel in 1999) and the book closes with a devastating chapter on pop music, containing more controversial views that readers will relish. Many will be delighted; others enraged. However, underlying this book there is a consistent argument and passion for tonality and rhythm.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 8
Part I: Aesthetics......Page 10
1 Introduction......Page 12
2 Sounds......Page 29
3 Wittgenstein on music......Page 42
4 Movement......Page 52
5 Expression......Page 58
6 Rhythm......Page 66
Part II: Criticism......Page 93
7 My Mozart......Page 95
8 Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony......Page 106
9 The trial of Richard Wagner......Page 128
10 A first shot at The Ring......Page 141
11 True authority: Janáček, Schoenberg and us......Page 172
12 Thoughts on Szymanowski......Page 192
13 Why read Adorno?......Page 214
Bibliography......Page 237
I......Page 246
S......Page 247
W......Page 248
D......Page 250
M......Page 251
S......Page 252
Z......Page 253