The Language of Music

By: Deryck Cooke

Write A Review

Paperback | 1 July 1989

At a Glance

Paperback
304 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.59 x 13.97 x 1.73

Paperback

$68.15

or 4 interest-free payments of $17.04 with

Aims to ship in 7 to 10 business days

This important and controversial book has come to be regarded as a modern classic. Originally published in 1959, it has exerted a profound influence on all subsequent discussion in the field of musical aesthetics. The author''s thesis is that the main characteristic of music is to express and evoke emotion, and that all composers whose music has a tonal basis have used the same, or closely similar, melodic phrases, harmonies, and rhythms to express and evoke the same emotions. He supports this view with numerous musical examples, varying from plainsong to Stravinsky. Based on this evidence he argues that music is a language in the quite specific sense that idioms can be identified and a list of meanings compiled. While acknowledging that a ''dictionary'' of the language of music cannot easily be provided, he attempts to supply what could at least be regarded as a ''phrase book''. The enlightening analysis of two complete symphonies by Mozart and Vaughan Williams demonstrates the expressive function of musical form, the latter being an element which the author considers inseparable from musical content.

Industry Reviews

One of the most important publications of post-war English musicography...its honesty, its individualism, and its empiricism reflect the best intellectual traditions of English literature.--Music and Letters

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Arts & Entertainment Music Theory of Music & Musicology Techniques of Music / Music Tutorials / Teaching Of Music

Acknowledgements	p. viii
Preface	p. ix
What Kind of an Art is Music?	p. 1
The Elements of Musical Expression	p. 34
Some Basic Terms of Musical Vocabulary	p. 113
The Process of Musical Communication	p. 168
The Large-Scale Functioning of Musical Language	p. 211
Index of Subjects	p. 275
Index Of Names And Works Referred To In The Text Without Adjacent Quotation	p. 279
Index Of Music Examples	p. 283
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

The Language of Music

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in Music

Gallagher

The Fall and Rise of Oasis: the must-read new biography of one of the world's biggest bands

Stars Around My Scars

The Annotated Poetry of Taylor Swift

Night Divides The Day

The Doors Anthology

Live Forever

How Liam and Noel Remade Rock 'N' Roll, the Story of Oasis

My First Piano Adventure Lesson Book A

Hal Leonard Guitar Method: Book 1 (Second Edition)

The Story Orchestra: Four Seasons in One Day (Sound Book)

Press the note to hear Vivaldi's Music (Volume 1)

Hamilton

The Revolution

Play It! Children's Songs

Superfast Way to Learn Awesome Songs on Your Piano or Keyboard

The Artist's Way

Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

A Dozen A Day Anthology

How to Write One Song

Total F*cking Godhead

The Biography of Chris Cornell

My First Piano Adventure - Lesson Book

My First Piano Adventure

My First Piano Adventure Lesson Book B

Piano Lessons Book 2

Hal Leonard Student Piano Library

Piano Adventures All-In-Two Primer Lesson/Theory

Lesson & Theory - Anglicised Edition

Piano Adventures All-In-Two Level 1 Tech. & Perf.

Technique & Performance - Anglicised Edition

Piano Adventures All-In-Two Level 1 Lesson/Theory

Lesson & Theory - Anglicised Edition

The Horse

'Extraordinary.' Ann Patchett

Half the Perfect World

Writers, Dreamers and Drifters on Hydra, 1955-1964

All You Need Is Love

The End of The Beatles - Unpublished, Unvarnished and Told by The Beatles and Their Inner Circle

Faith, Hope and Carnage

Music Theory Made Easy for Kids

Level 2

This product is categorised by