Customer Reviews

Inside Music

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Those of us serious about classical music probably own, in addition to hundreds of recordings, such necessary references as the "Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music and Musicians," "The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music," "The New Harvard Dictionary of Music," and/or (for the ultimate reference) the multi-volume "Grove Dictionary of Music." For us, this book may seem like an unnecessary addition. However, that is not the case.

Karl Haas is to classical music what Carl Sagan was to astronomy--he brings it to the people. Every day, thousands of listeners tune in to hear Karl Haas's radio show, "Adventures in Good Music," and this book serves as much more than a program companion. If you are new to classical music, use this book as an excellent introductory manual and reference (second only to Roger Kamien's "Music: An Introduction"). And if you are well-versed in the classical music tradition, this book is still a must-have because you will find a more enthusiastic and knowledgable account of the joys of music nowhere else. Haas's world-famous avuncular style reverberates through his written prose just as livelily as when heard over the airwaves. Put this book in your musical library and lend it to anyone you know who is curious about the world of classical music.

This is an indispensable reference for every facet of music appreciation! If you've ever wondered what the difference was between a Rondo and an Overture, or which music selections you should have as essentials in your classical collection, this is without a doubt THE book to own! It is clearly written, with colorful background information loaded along with the nuts and bolts workings of musical instrumentation and appreciation. A comprehensive index, bibliography, glossary, and extensive listing of suggestions for building your music library, make this a book like no other! Buy this no matter what stage you are in Classical appreciation.

I was a loyal fan of Karl Haas and listened to his radio programs on NPR for many years. When I was preparing for a series of lectures myself, about music appreciation, I used this wonderful book as a guide. It is perfect for beginners who know little or nothing about the art of music, but only what they "like" or "don't like." Once you have started digging a little deeper and know what to listen for, your whole world changes for the better. And Karl helped me -- and countless others -- to do just that. He passed away a few years ago, and is truly missed. His music, and his writing, live on.

One of the best books of all time. Dr. Karl Haas was a genius at teaching how to understand classical music. Every musician should read this book.

I wouldn't call myself any sort of aficionado of classical music, but Karl Haas' 'Inside Music' has always been a favourite of mine. Although at first glance the book seems targeted towards a serious classical music audience, the book is in fact a fantastic reference for anyone who is interested in music theory, music history, or simply music for its own sake. Haas doesn't care if you're a classically trained virtuoso or just love whistling in the shower, and 'Inside Music' encourages everyone to explore and develop their interest in Haas' favourite subject.

Part One introduces the basics of music, instrumentation, and orchestration. Following a brief discussion of the music's "building blocks" (Chapter 2), we are given an overview of many different musical instruments (Chapter 3), the orchestra (Chapter 4), and conducting (Chapter 6). This part of the book is fascinating for music lovers of all stripes....Chapter 3 especially provides some fascinating detail on the history and usage of a whole range of instruments from many eras and cultures. And Haas is one of those writers who can mix impressive technical detail with readability. He draws on his own experiences in orchestra to give the descriptions a personal touch, throwing in some witty anecdotes and discussion of the quaint rituals and habits of the orchestra.

Part Two is more focussed specifically on classical music. Chapter 8 introduces the different catagories of music, covering everything from Sonatas and Symphonies to Liturgical Music and Opera. Chapter 9 discusses music through the course of history, both for its own sake and in the context of other arts, while Chapter 10 provides a similar overview of classical music in the US. This is interesting enough in its own right, although I think the true classical music lovers will get the most benefit out of this section. The Appendix provides a glossary of common musical terms as well as Haas' suggestions for building a classical music library.

In all, this is a very detailed but readable book that works equally well as a reference or as something to read through from start to finish. Although it does focus heavily on classical music, pretty much anyone who enjoys music will find plenty of interest here, especially in much of Part One.

Recommended for all those who simply love music.

Looking for a book that might possibly give me a better insight into the aesthetic value of music, I bought this with high hopes. Having previously studied music, I was also hoping for a unique perspective and a broader education in classical music, but found this book to be nothing more than a college level textbook. It is arranged nicely and has great appendix on creating a music library. But the author is often long winded, using musical terms that aren't clearly defined and over descriptive and opinionated explanations of composers and their works. This might be nice for someone who has a beginning interest in classical music, but not for someone who has a working knowledge of the field.