Infinite Variety of Music [Paperback]

Leonard Bernstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1993

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--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: Anchor (February 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385424388
• ISBN-13: 978-0385424387
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,053,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another masterpiece by Bernstein, May 17, 2010

By 

Daniel Lyle - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Infinite Variety of Music (Paperback)

Bernstein knew his music and his enthusiasm for its variety and richness is infectious. Everyone who has used iTunes or other online music downloads sites knows that we as humans have insatiable appetites for endless variety. This book channels that nature and passion in an uplifting manner to harness it towards refining one's appetites for more of the classical and folk styles of music and the many variety's of rich music in such genres. Bernstein opens with a dialogue about what it means to truly listen to rather than simply hear music and progresses onto an analysis of what makes music rich, concluded with in depth analysis of several music masterpieces. This book is for both the layman and connoisseur of music. For me it provided numerous references to music both familiar and new that I am excited to download in the future and add to my iTunes playlists! You can preview most of this book on google books, but it's definitely worth it to buy a hardcopy of this work for home reference.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those who can read Music, January 17, 2008

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Bernstein was a great teacher, and along with his tremendous knowledge of Music he conveys a great enthusiasm for it. He says early on that reading music is a vital skill, and should be a part of the education of everyone. He says that the ability to play a piece oneself is to understand the music in a way one cannot simply by hearing it.
A number of these chapters are transcripts of five television talks he did.
Bernstein shows the way Music's complexity is built up from simple elements. He takes a subject like 'rhythm' and gives a whole host of musical illustrations. These will be very helpful to those who can read the music as at least half the text of the book is the notes of the music.
Speaking more generally Bernstein advocates a new development in American music. He wonders why the music written over the past half- century has not entered the concert hall in a true way. He notes that Classical music was primarily contemporary music, and educated audiences had enthusiasm for the latest things. He wishes to get to something like that in American music.
There are many insights given along the way about music by Bernstein. And these make the book a valuable one.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still excellent!!, August 4, 2008

By 

Erico Stern "truderic" (Montevideo, Uruguay) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Infinite Variety of Music (Paperback)

Inspite of having been written so many years ago, these talks are still valid and outstanding.- I am a commentator on Music on Television, and Leonard Bernstein has been, and continues to be, my model and idol in this respect.- Very recommended indeed.-