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    Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music
    Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music
    Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music
    Audiobook9 hours

    Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music

    Written by Jan Swafford

    Narrated by Tom Perkins

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    For many of us, classical music is something serious-something we study in school, something played by cultivated musicians at fancy gatherings.

    In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah, from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre. He traces the history of Western music, introduces listeners to the most important composers and compositions, and explains the underlying structure and logic of their music.

    Language of the Spirit is essential listening for anyone who has ever wished to know more about this sublime art.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateSep 26, 2017
    ISBN9781541484863
    Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music
    Author

    Jan Swafford

    Jan Swafford is an American composer and author. He earned his bachelor of arts magna cum laude from Harvard College and his DMA in composition from the Yale School of Music. His music has been widely played by ensembles, including the symphonies of St. Louis, Indianapolis, and the Dutch Radio. He is the author of biographies of Ives, Brahms, and Beethoven. His many honors include an NEA Composer Grant and the Deems Taylor Award for online writing on music, which he won for his essays in Slate. He is a longtime program writer and preconcert lecturer for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and has written notes and essays for the orchestras of Cleveland, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit, and Toronto. Among his liner notes for  recordings are those for DGG’s anniversary release of  Beethoven’s nine symphonies by the Vienna Philharmonic.

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