The Complete Classical Music Guide

Hardback cover of The Complete Classical Music Guide

get a closer look

Thumbnail image of The Complete Classical Music Guide - 1Thumbnail image of The Complete Classical Music Guide - 2Thumbnail image of The Complete Classical Music Guide - 3Thumbnail image of The Complete Classical Music Guide - 4Thumbnail image of The Complete Classical Music Guide - 5Thumbnail image of The Complete Classical Music Guide - 6Thumbnail image of The Complete Classical Music Guide - 7Thumbnail image of The Complete Classical Music Guide - 8Thumbnail image of The Complete Classical Music Guide - 9+ 1 more

Published by DK

Consultant editor John Burrows

RRP: $25.00

About The Complete Classical Music Guide

What makes Mozart's music so great? Why does a minor chord sound sad and a major chord sound happy? What's the difference between opera and operetta? From Bach to Bernstein, this definitive guide offers a complete survey of the history of classical music.

Whether you already love classical music or you're just beginning to explore it, The Complete Classical Music Guide invites you to discover the spirituality of Byrd's masses, the awesome power of Handel's Messiah, and the wonders of Wagner's operas, as well as hundreds of more composers and their masterpieces. This guide takes you on a journey through more than 1,000 years, charting the evolution of musical instruments, styles, and genres. Biographies of major and lesser-known composers offer rich insights into their music and the historical and cultural contexts that influenced their genius.

The book explores the features that defined each musical era - from the ornate brilliance of the Baroque, through the drama of Romantic music, to contemporary genres such as minimalism and electronic music. Timelines, quotes, and color photographs give a voice to this music and the exceptionally gifted individuals who created it.