"This book is a virtual treasure house of political, musicological and cultural comment, subtle and acute critical judgements on the work of composers from Dufay to Schoenberg (with special attention to Bach, Beethoven and Wagner) and discussions of particular musical forms." Canadian Philosophical Reviews
"...this collection of essays is overflowing with interesting and engaging thoughts about music." Council Research in Music Education
Product Description
This volume contains a selection of essays in translation by the German philosopher and man of letters Ernst Bloch (1885-1977), on the philosophy of music. For Bloch - often simply assimilated to the Marxist tradition, but whose thought shows a strongly individual and idealist cast - music was a primary focus on reflection. His musical knowledge and expertise were of a very high order and he was well acquainted with many of the leading composers and theorists of music of his time in Germany: even divorced from his philosophy his criticism remains of value and significance. Throughout, whether discussing the complex and varied relations between text and music, or questions relating to the 'expressive' as opposed to the 'descriptive' functions of music, Bloch is intent on elucidating and placing musical experience.
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