This classic work is perhaps Bernstein's finest collection of conversations on the meaning and wonder of music. This book is a must for all music fans who wish to experience music more fully and deeply through one of the most inspired, and inspiring, music intellects of our time. Employing the creative device of "Imaginary Conversations" in the first section of his book, Bernstein illuminates the importance of the symphony in America, the greatness of Beethoven, and the art of composing. The book also includes a photo section and a third section with the transcripts from his televised Omnibus music series, including "Beethoven's Fifth Symphony," "The World of Jazz," "Introduction to Modern Music," and "What Makes Opera Grand."
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
" . . . Bernstein's insights . . . still are as pointed and relevant as they were when [the book] first came out." -- The Bookwatch, April 2005
"This collection of conversations on the meaning and wonder of music is a must-have for . . . music fans . . .". -- Stringendo, Vol. 27 Number 1
"This collection of conversations on the meaning and wonder of music is a must-have for . . . music fans . . .". -- Stringendo, Vol. 27 Number 1
From the Publisher
Widely hailed by the critics and the public alike, and a national best-seller on its publication, Joy Of Music is Leonard Bernstein's first collection of essays and conversations on the world of music. Whether illustrating the blues or fathoming the peculiar greatness of Beethoven, Bernstein's exuberant genius illumines and enriches.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A true Renaissance man,
By
This review is from: The Joy Of Music (Hardcover)
Leonard Bernstein excelled at everything he tried--he was a fantastic conductor, composer, and writer. From popular music from West Side Story to jazz to "serious art music" like Chichester Psalms and his Mass, Bernstein was never constrained by any seeming limitations. This book is a compilation Bernstein's writings. The first section consists of dialogues between Bernstein and several imaginary characters regarding society's philosophy of music. These discussions are quite intellectual and thought-provoking. The second section contains seven television transcripts about subjects ranging from Musical Theater to J.S. Bach. This half is much more accessible and a breeze to read. If you can't read music, you would enjoy getting CDs of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Brahms' First Symphony, and Bach's St. Matthew Passion before curling up with this book. It will enhance your enjoyment of Bernstein's exciting descriptions, and will make them come to life.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very intelligent and insightful dicussion of music.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Joy of Music, The (Paperback)
This is a great book for those who wish to know how a
composer/conductor thinks about music. The discussion
presented is witty, intelligent and very insightful.
My only problem with the book is that it should be
accompanied by a CD or video tape. All of the
examples are presented as written music. If you
can't read and play/sing the music in the book
you will have only a vague idea of the point the
author is trying to make.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Joy of Music---a thorough and inspired work,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Joy Of Music (Hardcover)
This is a complete, lucid, approachable and vibrant book. The dialogues at the beginning reveal the many facets of Bernstein's character and of his startling brilliance, and the section on modern music should not be missed. Of course, for the sections taken from his Omnibus television programs, the textual medium can only inform the reader what would be happening on screen, and those descriptions probably lack the power of audio-visual aids. It is, however, a work that any student of music, or any lover of music, would be able to take for granted in a Perfect World.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
EVER since I can remember I have talked about music, with friends, colleagues, teachers, students, and just plain, simple citizens. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
tonic home plate, poco sostenuto, chorale tune, serious composer Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Universal Edition, Sweet Sue, Brahms's First, Fifth Symphony, United States, Upper Dubbing, Lamb of God, The Black Crook, European American Music Distributors Corporation, South Pacific, Lyric Suite, Naughty Marietta, The Cobweb, Belmont Music Publishers, Frank Loesser, Greaves of Brass, Pacific Palisades, Saint Matthew Passion, Show Boat, Some Enchanted Evening, The Star-Spangled Banner New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
EVER since I can remember I have talked about music, with friends, colleagues, teachers, students, and just plain, simple citizens. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
tonic home plate, poco sostenuto, chorale tune, serious composer Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Universal Edition, Sweet Sue, Brahms's First, Fifth Symphony, United States, Upper Dubbing, Lamb of God, The Black Crook, European American Music Distributors Corporation, South Pacific, Lyric Suite, Naughty Marietta, The Cobweb, Belmont Music Publishers, Frank Loesser, Greaves of Brass, Pacific Palisades, Saint Matthew Passion, Show Boat, Some Enchanted Evening, The Star-Spangled Banner New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 17
books:
See all 17 books this book cites
48
books
cite this book:
See all 48 books citing this book
- Guys and Dolls (Vocal Score Series) by Frank Loesser on page 164, and page 190
- Tristan and Isolde: English National Opera Guide 6 (English National Opera Guides) by Richard Wagner on page 211, and page 279
- Peter And The Wolf by Vladimir Vagin on page 142, and Back Matter
- Rhapsody in Blue: Solo Piano (Original) by George Gershwin on page 57
- Joy of Music by Fredric Johnson on page 107
See all 17 books this book cites
- Leonard Bernstein: In Love with Music (Lerner Biographies) by Caroline Evensen Lazo on 4 pages
- Conductors on Composers by John L. Holmes on 4 pages
- The Richard Rodgers Reader (Readers on American Musicians) by Geoffrey Block on page 167, page 168, and Back Matter
- Twentieth-Century American Masters: Ives, Thomson, Sessions, Cowell, Gershwin, Copland, Carter, Barber, Cage, Bernstein (New Grove Composer Biographies) by John Kirkpatrick on page 178, page 295, and page 304
- Signs, Language and Communication by Roy Harris on page 228, and Back Matter
See all 48 books citing this book
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
|
|
