Music Listening Today (with 2-CD set)

Rating:
Summary: My CD melted!
Review: I opened the book and tried to take the CD out of the plastic and part of the CD came off ruining the CD. Also I was under the impression that all the CDs came with the book not that you had to purchase four more. Also the print is too small. Very dissapointed! I was surprised too because Hoffer wrote a good book on music education in the secondary schools. I would reccommend the Kamien Music Appreciation books by far over this one.

Rating:
Summary: The world of music at your fingertips, with 2 CDs
Review: This is a beautiful book. Anyone who wants to learn more about music -- its notation, its instrumentation, its history, how and why it moves us -- will enjoy this book immensely. It discusses music theory in understandable terms, covering rhythm, melody, harmony, dynamics, timbre, and organization. The instruments of the classical orchestra are all explained, as are folk instruments. In fact, folk music from around the world is discussed as a prelude to the main sections on the so-called "art music" of Europe and America. I especially liked the Listening Guides. They correspond to tracks on the two CDs that come with the book. The author explains what's going on at each important part of a piece of music, with timings provided so you can follow along, and even provides musical notation showing important themes. I don't read music, but I enjoyed being able to see the score of a familiar strain and following along with the Listening Guide to better understand what the music was about. There are also biographies of each important composer and beautiful full-color reproductions of art from the period being discussed. The book also includes an appendix about musical notation (which if I had studied better would probably give me musical literacy). It also has a very useful glossary and index. This book is obviously a college textbook, but anyone who wants to increase his or her understanding and appreciation of the world music will benefit from reading it.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Miss It
Review: Unquestionably the most understandable,interesting,even entertaining text for introduction to music courses. It would also be an excellent gift for anyone wanting to know more about classical, ethnic and contemporary music. The CD ROMs add immeasurably to the book, providing graphic illustrations of the ideas in the text. An outstanding book.