This stimulating Very Short Introduction to music invites us to really think about music and the values and qualities we ascribe to it.The world teems with different kinds of music-traditional; folk; classical; jazz; rock; pop-and each type of music tends to come with its own way of thinking. Drawing on a wealth of accessible examples ranging from Beethoven to Chinese zither music; Nicholas Cook attempts to provide a framework for thinking about all music. By examining the personal; social; and cultural values that music embodies; the book reveals the shortcomings of traditional conceptions of music; and sketches a moreinclusive approach emphasizing the role of performers and listeners.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts; analysis; perspective; new ideas; and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
#1032094 in eBooks 2011-09-30 2011-09-30File Name: B005NHQ0FO
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy R. W. TetherA very good and extensive history of Picasso0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Marjorie G. Mountincredible biographer!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Studios. Painting Locales. Poets. Lovers. Collectors. Competitors. War. and PicassoBy Donald MitchellOf the three volumes of A Life of Picasso that have been completed. I liked The Cubist Rebel. 1907-1916 best. John Richardson moves his focus around to see Picassos life from many angles. much like a Cubist painting deconstructs reality into two dimensions representing all sides. There is fine balance in his portrayal so that no element gets out of proportion.The scholarship involved with showing the connections between Picassos lovers and his art during those years is most interesting. filled with many details I had not run across before. I was also pleased to be better informed about Picassos relationship with other Cubist artists of the era.In other histories and biographies that cover this part of Picassos life. Im always a little puzzled about the role of Apollinaire. but in this book the man comes into reasonably clear focus.Many of the references to places where Picasso had his studios come into sharper focus as well in this book which describes and portrays those places quite well.Surprisingly. the weakest part of the book comes in its discussion of Picassos Cubism per se which gets surprisingly short shift after he shifted into synthetic Cubism. I expected a lengthy description of the developments in that work. There are some very fine discussions of individual major works. but the overall subject drifts away into nothingness. Hmmm.I found the books details constantly fascinating in explaining the gaps between what happened in those days and how matters shifted. Since few Americans were major collectors of Picasso in the early days (the Steins being a happy exception). how did all those works end up in the United States? If Les Demoiselles dAvignon is one of the great works of the 20th century. why did it have so much trouble finding the right home? John Richardson shares our natural curiosity and is happy to satisfy that curiosity.As with the other works in the series. it is a disappointment that none of the reproductions are in color. But with the Cubist period. color is less important so the loss is less significant in this volume.Bravo!
