242 Pages
by
Amsterdam University Press
For virtually all of our lives, we are surrounded by music. From lullabies to radio to the praises sung in houses of worship, we encounter music at home and in the street, during work and in our leisure time, and not infrequently at birth and death. But what is music, and what does it mean to humans? How do we process it, and how do we create it? Musician Leo Samama discusses these and many... Read more
1. By way of a foreword, Part A 2. Looking over Franz Schubert’s shoulder 3. What is music? 4. Where does music come from? 5. Music as imitation 6. Music as language Part B 7. Bach: Prelude in C major 8. Music and communication 9. Music as notation 10. Music as a temporal art 11. Music and emotion 12. On depth and elevation Part C 13. Beethoven: the Fifth 14. Classical music 15. Hearing, listening and remembering 16. On composing Part D 17. Dvoøák and the Bohemian overcoat 18. A memorable moment 19. The conductor 20. The performing artist Part E 21. Lully: the King is dancing 22. As the ancients sang 23. The history of the history of music 24. By way of an epilogue: music now, Further Reading, Index of names, About the author.
Biography
Leo Samama has taught at the Utrecht Conservatory and Utrecht University. He has also worked as an artistic administrator with organisations such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Residentie Orchestra The Hague and the Netherlands Chamber Choir.
