Three Texts on Music Appreciation

"Music" by Daniel T. Politoske is divided into nine parts, comprising 30 chapters, being comprehensive in its coverage. The highlight of the book is each period of music is complemented by art essays drawing on the painting & sculpture of the age, presenting a holistic picture of beauty in music & the arts. Profusely illustrated both in photographs & staff notation excerpts, it also contains over 50 Listening Guides to many works which analyse threadbare the structure of the pieces.

"Invitation to Listening" by Richard L.Wink & Lois G.Williams also uses art works to highlight & compare similar abstract ideas present in music. For example Peter Mondrian's "Composition with Red, Yellow, Blue & Black" (which comprises just blocks of these colours put together) is used to illustrate the idea of Music being an abstract art. Divided into 12 chapters, the first 10 provide an introduction to music theory & forms of composition. Musical examples quoted in text are given in staff notation in the last 40 pages of the book.

Probably the most beautifully designed book is "Listen" by Joseph & Vivian Kerman, which won the Merit Award at the New York Book Show. All the people involved in the production of this book are accomplished musicians themselves. This volume, lavishly spread over 21 chapters also integrates the relevant art works of the period to the music being discussed. The second colour works wonders to clarify diagrams, music examples & listening charts. The 22 Listening Charts, an unique feature gives the time indication in minutes & seconds of what is going on in the music, hand-holding the reader/listener throughout the piece.