Heritage of Musical Style - Softcover

The Heritage of Musical Style was first published by Holt, Rinehart & Winston in 1970, and in 1980 reissued by the University Press of America. The present edition, like its predecessor, is designed for students in introductory music history courses and for music lovers. This edition is a more concise, integrated text than previous editions in order to make it portable and easier to read. Written in the humanities spirit and focusing upon musical styles and their cultural background, this work traces the development of music from the Baroque period (1600-1750) to the present. Completely revised and updated, the opening chapters introduce the elements of music in a new and stimulating manner-through aesthetics as opposed to the traditional theoretical approach that emphasizes musical notation, keys, etc. Recent studies and research have indicated the need to do more with the introductory phases of music appreciation, specifically, to direct the listener through the 'how' and the 'what' of musical enjoyment. The opening section discusses the 'heart' (emotional) and 'mind' (cognitive) approach to musical understanding with explicit examples and suggestions to follow. The final chapters on the music of the modern period reflect the dramatic changes in the avant-garde and audience tastes. Critics' and historians' views are examined with an attempt to cut through the complexities of the contemporary music scene. To help the reader in this endeavor, the philosophy from the opening pages is reconsidered and applied to selected works, thereby suggesting possible answers to some of the 'big' questions facing interested listeners today.

Donald H. Van Ess was Professor of Music Emeritus, State University of New York, Brockport. In addition to teaching at SUNY Brockport he has held positions at Boston University (Doctoral Fellowship), Mansfield State University, and Carthage College. He earned his Ph.D. at Boston University and is the author of several books including: The Commonwealth of Arts & Man: Readings in the Humanities; A Listener's Guide to the Heritage of Musical Style; English Wind Music Through the Ages; The Romantic Revolution in Music (in preparation); and contributor to The Athlone History of Music in Britain, The Romantic Age.