What are some essential books about music?
I think I should tell you guys that I'm not some moronic shitposter from /mu/, in order to ensure that this thread isn't derailed by discussion of that board.
The Oxford History of Western Music by Richard Taruskin
>>8029210
Great shit, but utterly fucking ridiculous to try to buy though. Get from a library.
OP, also check out Music in the Castle of Heaven by John Gardiner.
>>8029281
There are also other ways you can obtain it...
>>8029210
Anyone got something a little more concise than this?
>>8029071
I like Ted Gioia's The History of Jazz.
>>8029781
The Teaching Company courses /Understanding the Fundamentals of Music/ and /How to Listen to and Understand Great Music/ by Robert Greenberg
Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks
What to Listen for In Music by Aaron Copland
I think there was a David Byrne book a few years ago called How Music Works, and I don't know if you're looking for fiction, but Julian Barnes just came out with a book on Shostakovich called Noise of Time.
>>8029071
Is anyone familiar with the book in the op? Is it any good?
>>8032402
>http://gen.lib.rus.ec/search.php?req=The+Oxford+History+of+Western+Music&lg_topic=libgen&open=0&view=simple&res=25&phrase=1&column=def
But anon, that would be illegal.
>>8033521
I haven't read the book itself, but Alex Ross is an excellent music writer (usually writes for the New Yorker), so it's probably great. It's about 20th century art music, which is an interesting subject.
>>8033521
I've read it and it really is a pretty good resource for putting 20th century composers in context. Warning: although the title makes you think it is about 20th century music (which could include a lot of stuff) it's like 99% about classical tradition 20th century music, think Stravinsky, Prokoviev, Shostakovich, Webern, Copland, Schoenberg, Boulez, Messaien, Poulenc, Steve Reich, Leonard Bernstein, Philip Glass, and so on. This is the kind of book you really want to read with Youtube open nearby so you can listen to sound clips as you go. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in the subject matter.
peter guralnick's sweet soul music
If you just want a quick intro to music history and theory, the best you're going to do is these: >>8032397
>>8032402
bless you, I hope you have a great week :)
>>8029071
Nietzsche - The Birth of Tragedy
Heidegger has a piece on art as well.
>>8029071
Gradus ad Parnassum
WTK vol. I
WTK vol. II
Missa Papae Marcelli
All you need to understand music.
>>8036089
Well that is at least to understand art music and how we got where we are now.
If you want to look into the primitive and IMO the way forward, see von Helmholtz "On the Sensations of Tone" and Harry Partch's "Genesis of a Music".
Are there any good books on no wave/post-punk or the NY underground in general?
>>8036258
Just started 'Rip it up and start again' but it's more UK and US-oriented in general rather than about the NY scene specifically
>>8035264
this is what I was looking for
thank you
