Norton Anthology of Western Music: Volume 2: Classic to Twentieth Century

Book Description

The ideal companion to A History of Western Music, Seventh Edition, the two-volume Norton Anthology of Western Music, Fifth Edition, includes 172 historically significant scores, 71 of them new to this edition, with a strengthened emphasis on twentieth-century music. Revised and enlivened commentaries closely examine the scores to clarify their historical significance, and professional recordings of all works in the anthology are included on CDs, many in dynamic new performances.

Customer Reviews:

its a classic.......2007-03-13

this is vol 2 of the 2 classic texts for studying the history of european music. These are a must have for the serious student of music

history.......2006-02-27

I had to buy this new volume for my last history class. I'm a tad bit pist that I had to spend so much but it is indeed alot better and more indept.

Norton Recorded Anthology of Western Music, Fifth Edition, Volume 2: Classic to Twentieth Century (6 CDs)

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Great CD collection

Norton Recorded Anthology of Western Music, Fifth Edition, Volume 2: Classic to Twentieth Century (6 CDs)

Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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Norton Recorded Anthology of Western Music, Fifth Edition, Volume 1: Ancient to Baroque (6 CDs)
Norton Anthology of Western Music: Volume 2: Classic to Twentieth Century
Norton Anthology of Western Music: Volume 1: Ancient to Baroque
A History of Western Music
Concise History of Western Music, Third Edition

ASIN: 0393106098

Book Description

The Norton Recorded Anthology of Western Music includes professional recordings (many brand new) of all works in the anthology on two six-CD sets, of which this is volume 2.

Customer Reviews:

Great CD collection.......2007-05-10

These CDs are great, i can appreciate them more however, through my music class.

Soundings: Music in the Twentieth Century

Average customer rating:

Powerful insights into the artistic culture of the 20th Cent
Revised Edition
Concise but confusing
Quite good before 1945, but really needs editing

Soundings: Music in the Twentieth Century
Glenn Watkins
Manufacturer: Schirmer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Anthology of Twentieth-Century Music (Norton Introduction to Music History)
Materials and Techniques of 20th Century Music (3rd Edition)
Twentieth-Century Music: A History of Musical Style in Modern Europe and America (Norton Introduction to Music History)
Source Readings in Music History: 20th Century (Source Readings Vol. 7)
Pyramids at the Louvre: Music, Culture, and Collage from Stravinsky to the Postmodernists

ASIN: 0028732901

Customer Reviews:

Powerful insights into the artistic culture of the 20th Cent.......2004-04-09

This is a unique and important book. It provides a comprehensive overview of art music in the twentieth century; a topic that is not given the attention it deserves. Mr. Watkins demonstrates a unique breadth of knowledge of the music of the last hundred plus years and he also posseses a rare depth of insight into the wonderfully rich flowering of musical styles and the connection of those styles to the larger artistic culture in painting, sculpture, literature, poetry, theatre, and dance.

This book is so rich in explanation and insight that it is impossible to take in all it has to offer in a single front to back reading. It is one of those texts that rewards deep and repeated study. You will want to return not only for its texts, musical examples, and images, but also for its rich notes and references.

The book opens by giving us wonderful background in the cultural movements in Vienna and Paris from 1885 through the first year of the First World War. The next two parts lay out the way new movements and views arose in Europe from 1909-1930. The next two sections brilliantly demonstrate the rise and aims of national movements and the way the first and second world wars caused artists to create works aiming beyond nationalism. Serialism and the search for new sounds are the subjects of the next two sections. The book closes with a survey of the art music of the late twentieth century including its movements in synthesizing earlier composers into new musical movements and the way classic forms were re-used and re-interpreted.

Mr. Watkins tells us these great stories by providing wonderful readings of aptly chosen works that connect and illuminate all these movements. It isn't a continuous narrative of one thing after another. Instead, we get the benefit of seeing great works up close and in their proper cultural context. For me, one of the great benefits of this book was the way it opened up the connections between painting, sculpture, and literature to the music of this period. I had studied that for the Baroque, Classic, and Romantic periods, but had not been given that insight into the twentieth century. And this book does it better than anything I have seen for those previous centuries. Reading this book was an electric experience for me. It is just so intensely packed with insight and revelation. At least it was for me.

Revised Edition.......2002-07-18

The initial printing, with the described editing problems, was corrected almost a decade ago. Readers are encouraged to see the result for themselves. The book has been widely and successfully adopted as a text throughout the United States.

Concise but confusing.......1999-09-17

Soundings is a good book with a great many examples and a great deal of information, but the format often leaves the reader in quite a quandry, as the author titles a chapter "Alan Berg Before Wozzeck," and the reader expects such. Then the author goes on to talk about Berg, but keeps referring back to Webern and Mahler and Schoenberg, and the reader at many points is left wondering exactly who this piece of music and that particular quote is by. Once again, much information in a format lacking in organization.

Quite good before 1945, but really needs editing.......1997-10-23

Watkins seems to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the first half ot the twentieth century, and does a very good job of encapsulating stylistic trends. However, his examples sometimes do not support his conclusions, although they seem sound. Often, a few logical steps seem to be left out. Finally, this book is marred by shoddy editing. Figures do not match the text, there are factual errors, and the reader is constantly being refered to "pp. 000-000".

Analytic Approaches to Twentieth-Century Music

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A Great Book on Some Great Music

Analytic Approaches to Twentieth-Century Music
Joel Lester
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory (3rd Edition)
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The Structure of Atonal Music

ASIN: 0393957624

Customer Reviews:

A Great Book on Some Great Music.......2000-05-21

This book is one of the best books regarding theoretical concepts. The book is easy and fun to read. The purpose of this book is to analyisis twentieth-centuary. He goes back to the roots of tonal music and uses them to aid you in understanding 20th centuary music. The grammer regarding serial music is all there and everything presented to the reader in a clear and concise manner. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to study 20th centuary music.

Materials and Techniques of Twentieth-Century Music (2nd Edition)

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If you're a twenty-first century composer, get this book!

Materials and Techniques of Twentieth-Century Music (2nd Edition)
Stefan Kostka
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Techniques of the Contemporary Composer
Analytic Approaches to Twentieth-Century Music
Twentieth-Century Harmony: Creative Aspects and Practice
Norton Recorded Anthology of Western Music, Fifth Edition, Volume 1: Ancient to Baroque (6 CDs)
Anthology for Musical Analysis

ASIN: 0139240772

Book Description

This book provides the most comprehensive analytical approach to 20th-Century Music available -- from Impressionism to recent trends. It covers music from the early 1900s through such movements as Minimalism and the Neoromanticism of the 1990's, and includes chapters on rhythm, form, electronic and computer music, and the roles of chance and choice in Twentieth-Century music. Explores an exceptionally broad range of styles and techniques --including electronic music and MIDI, chance music, and quotation music. Stresses analysis and composition rather than historical aspects. Organizes content by compositional technique. Covers all facets of materials and techniques -- from microtonal scale to melodic organization, chord structures, and serialism. Contains over 100 examples from music literature -- ranging from the beginning of the 20th-Century to the 1990's -- and representing a broad range of styles -- from Impressionism to Serialism to Minimalism and beyond. Includes exercises involving drills, analysis, composition, and listening. For anyone interested in music theory and harmony, analysis of 20th-Century music, or history of 20th-Century music.

Customer Reviews:

If you're a twenty-first century composer, get this book!.......2001-04-26

Was searching for the longest time for a good, in-depth reference book over twentieth century music, and I've found it in Mr. Kostka's publication. Thank God for Mr. Kostka!

Twentieth-century music books tend to be a little heavy on the beginning of the century and leave out all the recent developments like Minimalism, and electronic music. This book was published in 1998 and covers those sections beautifully.

Also, the way the material is organized is much more helpful than if it went chapter by chapter by composer or historically.

Other merits include the summaries at the end of each chapter, the numerous musical examples, exercises, and references to other books over twentieth century music.

One word of warning, however.

Although the book is excellently written, it is a book for advanced music theory students. If you don't have all your musical terminology down from previous study, you're going to get lost very quickly.

But what a breath of fresh air not to be talked down to anymore!

Customer Reviews:

best overview of the century.......2001-05-12

Morgan's book is the best that I have found for an overview of the entire 20th century in "classical" music. He divides his analysis into 3 logical sections:

Part 1. Beyond Tonality: From 1900 to World War I

Part 2. Reconstruction and New Systems: Between the Wars

Part 3. Innovation and Fragmentation: From WWII to the Present

This allows for some nuance that a simple list of composers often misses. For instance, Schoenberg's "atonal revolution" is covered in Part 1, along with the "new tonalities" of Stravinsky and Bartok. Part 2 covers the origin of the "twelve-tone system," but makes clear that it did not become influential until years later with the "serial revolution" in France, led by Messiaen and Boulez, in Part 3.

As others have noted, Morgan is not as strong on the more recent period, partly because the book was published in 1991 and thus misses such phenomena as Schnittke's surge of popularity, especially in Russia and Europe, after the collapse of the Soviet regime. I recommend two other books along with Morgan: 1) Gann's "American Music in the Twentieth-Century," which covers developments in the U.S. in greater detail, thus including for instance one of my favorites, Roger Reynolds, and 2) Griffiths' masterful "Modern Music and After," which begins after the Second World War.

Not Completely Comprehensive.......1999-12-12

This is a very good book, but it only covers the first three-quarters of the century. Minimalism is the latest movement that it really covers comprehensively. After that, most composers recieve only two or three lines of text. This is, of course, understandable, given when the book was written. Just be warned that more recent developments in music are often ignored or not given the attention they deserve. Also, it should be noted that the book generally restricts itself to "classical" music. Jazz and Free Improvisation, despite being arguably the most vital and truly revolutionary forces in music of the first 2/3 and last 1/3 of the century, respectively, are mentioned only in passing if at all.

The History of Modern Music for The Layman.......1997-03-15

As we end the 20th century, we may not realize that 20th century music covers the same time span as the 19th century Romantic music period. Have we grasped the meaning of modern music. To do this one needs to understand the history as well as the dynamics of 20th century music. Here is a book that fills the bill. Not only does Mr. Morgan discuss the growth and change in 20th century music but he does it in it's historical context of our maturing as a world. For many the atonality of 20th century music is hard to grasp, especially when concert artists and orchestras continue to emphasize in their repatoire 19th century music. But as the world changes so will music. A book to awaken your interest in 20th century music and the composers who were the leaders of this period.

Music of the Twentieth Century: an Anthology

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Music of the Twentieth Century: an Anthology
Bryan R. Simms
Manufacturer: Schirmer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Practical Approach to Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint
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ASIN: 0028723929

Book Description

MUSIC OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY provides an effective introduction to modern music using clear, comprehensive language. The author weaves together history, theory, and analysis to bring to life both the stylistic evolution of music since 1900 and the new principles by which this music is organized.

Theories and Analyses of Twentieth-Century Music

Average customer rating:

How boring can we make Music Theory?
General comments
General comments

Theories and Analyses of Twentieth-Century Music
J. Kent Williams
Manufacturer: Schirmer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 015500316X

Book Description

This introduction to the theories and analytical approaches of contemporary Western art music focuses primarily on pitch, but also treats rhythm and meter, texture, and form. Analyses of three songs exemplifying distinct modes of pitch organization (functional tonality, atonality, and neotonality) engage students, helping them understand the implications of what they have learned. Williams covers the fundamentals of set theory, and then expands on these fundamentals in chapters on diatonicism, symmetrical sets, neotonality, free atonality, and serialism. The author also explores more recent compositional techniques, such as chance and indeterminacy, minimalism, and eclecticism.

Customer Reviews:

How boring can we make Music Theory?.......2001-12-07

"Dry and testing" is a perfectly accurate description. Maybe it is becuase I have a bias against most twentieth century music, but I really have a distaste for this book. I must say, the exercises are good. They helped me understand the material much more quickly than simply reading about it or listening to the author ramble on - he's dry and testing too. I suppose this book is decent enough for a class - given that the teacher is creative and uses other sources as well. I wouldn't want to keep it around afterwards as a reference.

General comments.......2000-07-08

This is a workbook generally covering all major twentieth century developments in composition. However, it heavily concentrates on rigid objective theories which analyse 20th century music, and as a result can tend to be a little dry and testing for the reader at times. The author also tends to overcomplicate simple concepts ocassionally. Nevertheless, it is interesting to see how music theorists have attempted to grapple with highly complex areas such as twelve-tone theory and neotonal harmony.

General comments.......2000-07-08

Twentieth-Century Harmony: Creative Aspects and Practice

Average customer rating:

Clear and informative
Required reading for serious composers
Essential for Composers and Contemporary Music Enthusiasts
recommended
an excellent resource for composers and students

Twentieth-Century Harmony: Creative Aspects and Practice
Vincent Persichetti
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0393095398

Customer Reviews:

Clear and informative.......2005-08-06

Unquestionably one of the clearest, and most useful composition books I have ever read. This is something every composer should own. The book guides you through various aspects of modern composition and provides a TON of examples, as well as suggesting numerous pieces for further study. This book is worth double what it costs!

Required reading for serious composers.......2004-11-07

This is one of the most inspirational composition books I have. Every chapter will expand your horizons with clear explanations of difficult material, concise examples, and inspiring exercises. I return to this year after year when I am getting jaded with what I'm writing.

Essential for Composers and Contemporary Music Enthusiasts.......2003-01-27

Vincent Persichetti's "Twentieth Century Harmony" is a very thorough look at ways to use harmony outside of a traditional tonal context. In other words, if you are a composer and don't know all you could about how to use harmony except in tonal progressions, or if you are a listener interested in understanding twentieth century concert music, this book is for you. The book deals with the harmonic series, modes, synthetic scales, different types of chords (added note, polychords, etc.) and very specifically with different characteristics of different intervals. Littered with examples of nearly every point, it is the best education on contemporary harmony available.
Persichetti, unlike too many composers, doesn't go out of his way to use as many words as possible. He also doesn't attempt to criticize styles of music not his own in this writing; he simply gives an objective, clear, well organized series of lessons in harmony. I am a senior music composition student now, but learning much from the pages of this book.

recommended.......1999-04-29

A better book of this kind. (But best to study scores.) One quibble: The author calls the lowest note of a secundal chord voiced in seconds its root, and so for quartal chords, and this strikes me as arbitrary and illogical. It doesn't branch from what Rameau ("branch" in English) intended by "root". Readers interested in music theory will probably also want to look at PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by Jeff Burns.

an excellent resource for composers and students.......1998-03-06

Twentiteh Century Harmony provides, in a concise, easy to follow format, a useful methodology of understanding and manipulating the musical structures of the twentieth century. Written from a teacher's perspective, the book is engaging and full of suggested exercises for the practice of the techniques being discussed in each chapter.

The Twelve-Note Music of Anton Webern: Old Forms in a New Language (Music in the Twentieth Century)

Average customer rating:

An important and useful work with one flaw.

The Twelve-Note Music of Anton Webern: Old Forms in a New Language (Music in the Twentieth Century)
Kathryn Bailey
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Atonal Music of Anton Webern

ASIN: 0521547962

Book Description

This important new study reassesses the position of Anton Webern in twentieth-century music. The twelve-note method of composition adopted by Anton Webern had profound consequences for composers of the next generation such as Stockhausen and Boulez, who saw Webern’s music as revolutionary. In her detailed analyses, however, Professor Bailey demonstrates a fundamentally traditional aspect to Webern's creativity, when describing his own music. Professor Bailey analyses all Webern’s twelve-note works (from Op. 17 to Op. 31) i.e. the instrumental and vocal music written between 1924 and 1943. These analyses draw on sketch material recently made available at the Paul Sacher Foundation in Basel and include transcriptions of little-known drafts and sketches. A most valuable aspect of the book is the inclusion in appendices of such materials as a complete explanation of the row content of each work, the correct prime form of each of the rows from Op. 20 onwards, with a matrix constructed for each, and exhaustive row analyses.

Customer Reviews:

An important and useful work with one flaw........2006-03-05

I was very glad to receive my copy of this book when it finally became available. I like especially the way the author balances the views of Webern as an innovator and as a traditionalist. If you perform the twelve-tone works of Webern, this book is essential. If you are interested in the thought processes of someone who created this unique and influential musical style, you can't go wrong to start here.

One complaint: the analyses which are printed as an appendix are rendered so small that they are completely illegible. They are a very important part of the book. I suggest that the publisher should make them available as pdf files from their website.

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