Music: An Appreciation [Hardcover]

Roger Kamien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1992 | ISBN-10: 0079115152 | ISBN-13: 978-0079115157

When it comes to writing a text for non-music majors, Kamien knows the score. With the care you would expect from the concert pianist he is, Kamien introduces the musical elements and repertoire thoroughly and clearly, without assumptions of prior knowledge but also without condescension. As a teacher at Queens (NY) College, Kamien developed the concept of the Listening Outline, which he incorporated into the first edition of Music: An Appreciation and which he has refined and enhanced in every subsequent edition. This is a text with which students of all levels and backgrounds can feel comfortable.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Roger Kamien received his B.A. in Musicology from Columbia and his M.A. and PhD. from Princeton. Kamien taught for 2 years at Hunter College and for 20 years at Queens College, where he coordinated the music appreciation courses. In 1983, he was appointed to the Zubin Mehta Chair in Musicology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In addition to Music: An Appreciation, Prof. Kamien has written numerous articles and reviews, co-wrote A New Approach to Keyboard Harmony, and edited the Norton Scores. He is an accomplished pianist and, in recent years, has formed a two-piano team with his wife, Anita. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill College (June 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0079115152
• ISBN-13: 978-0079115157
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 12.8 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,029,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Roger Kamien received his B.A. in Musicology from Columbia and his M.A. and PhD. from Princeton. Kamien taught for 2 years at Hunter College and for 20 years at Queens College, where he coordinated the music appreciation courses. In 1983, he was appointed to his current position. In addition to Music: An Appreciation, Prof. Kamien has written numerous articles and reviews, co-wrote A New Approach to Keyboard Harmony, and edited the Norton Scores. He is an accomplished pianist and, in recent years, has formed a two-piano team with his wife, Anita.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very comprehensive introduction to music., September 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Music: An Appreciation (Hardcover)

I have used this text and earlier editions teaching music appreciation at community college and have found it to be the best yet so far. The most useful part of the text for the [before class] non-active listener are the listening outlines, with very detailed descriptions of what to listen for in various pieces of music. Kamien includes very early musical selections up to the very recent. Also included are some non-western music examples. This text could be very beneficial to musician and non-musician alike. There is great detail in his explanations of how various musical forms are put together. There is just enough history included in the text to avoid the boredom of the purely historical perspective of music appreciation.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Music: An Appreciation, March 10, 2007

By 

Kimberly Gritten "Grit" (West Tennessee, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Music: An Appreciation (Book & CDs) (Audio CD)

I ordered this book/ cd set because it was required text for a college class. It is well organized and clearly written. I especially like the way the listening guides in the book refer to specific portions of songs which are recorded so that the entire work can be played seemlessly in its entirity, or specific portions can be accessed individually.
The only thing this work lacks is impossible for any work that attempts to offer a complete appreciation of music to achieve, complete scope.
I recommend this set.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well done, with shortcomings, February 1, 2000

By 

Jessica (Queens, NY, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music: An Appreciation (Paperback)

This is an excellent text for a survey course strictly on the history of western classical music. Kamien's experience and scholarship as a teacher and historian cannot be equalled in this area. I don't recommend the chapters on non-western music, jazz and popular music, however. If you are teaching a survey course that is more inclusive, this text is not ideal. Of all the western classical music texts I have used in my teaching, Kamien's accompanying CD compilation contains the nicest performances.