Customer Reviews

Modern Music: A Concise History (World of Art)

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Griffiths book Modern Music clearly shows the main styles and trends af 20th century Music, he starts with the late Romantics and the Impressionists like Strauss,Mahler and Debussy and then devotes chapters on New Harmony, New Rhythm and Form. The revolutionary ideas of Schoenberg and Stravinsky are covered and how their ideas and others developed throughout the century. There's a chapter on Neoclassicism, Serialism and Total Serialism which developed after the second world war through composers such as Boulez and Stockhausen , he writes about the influence of the east on such composers as Debussy and Messiaen. Percussion, new ideas in rhythm, electronics and chance methods are covered, and then the last chapters are about Theatre and Politics and Minimalism and Multiplicity.

All the major themes and the most important composers are here so you get a clear Idea of how Modern Art music was in the 20th century, the book is not long so you don't get a detailed analysis of the works but what you get is a clear overall picture. A very good book to start with if you want information on Modern Music

Also recomended are his books "Modern Music the Avant Garde since 1945" which is a more detailed analysis of the second half of the century and his book about the Brilliant composer Gyorgi Ligeti.

Actually I read the 1978 version when I was a serious music student. It is very long time ago. The book became a memory of my music life.

It was unforgettable that the contemporary music had began with Debussy's "Prelude a l'ares-midi d'un faune". After reading the book, I analyzed the Debussy's score then I was totally convinced.

I met many contemprary composers in this book. I tried to listen thier music later, some of I love, some of not.

Griffiths's writing is clear and I think he captures the overall picture of 20th century serious music world.