Classical Music For Dummies (For Dummies (Music))

A simple and very basic introduction. I bought this to go with some CD's with the same title. The CD's are excellent, the book less so. I suppose it is what it says on the label, Classical Music for Dummies.

I grew up as a teenager with classical music that I kept borrowing from the library, basically because it captured the raw emotions of falling in love so much better than pop music whilst reminding me so much of the countryside that I longed to live in. Having no talent whatsoever in the music department, I thought this book might give me an opportunity for an insight into the musical minds of all those who create and play this glorious stuff – and, boy, did I get just that !The books begins with an easy history of the Greatest Composers (although, as an Austrian Englishman, I had hoped for biographies of the Strauss “Waltz” family and Elgar of England). We then get a run-down of all the instruments in the orchestra, which sent me hopping to YouTube to watch exactly who was playing what in my favorite symphonies and concertos. The hardest part of all is the Music Theory, which is like studying a foreign language from another planet, where the authors joke that you're probably wish you're studying nuclear physics instead.We all know that a good Dummies book is spotted with humor to make the reading more memorable but these guys certainly keep the laughs going with endless tags that had me literally roaring with laughter (do not read this book whilst drinking anything). There are also a lot more goodies in the book, including what to look out for in classical concerts, how to get involved with your favorite pastime and even the heart-strung story with a surprising ending of how one player auditioned for a Philharmonic orchestra.This is one of those books that one finally puts down with a heavy heart as one continues to wish for more whilst continuing to keep it handy for reference, as well as hitting the music deck again and looking up the next concerts in town.