Language of the Spirit: An Introduction to Classical Music

He traces the history of Western music, introduces readers to the most important composers and compositions, and explains the underlying structure and logic of their music.Language of the Spirit is essential reading for anyone who has ever wished to know more about this sublime art.. In Language of the Spirit, renowned music scholar Jan Swafford argues that we have it all wrong: classical music has something for everyone and is accessible to all. For many of us, classical music is something serious-something we study in school, something played by cultivated musicians at fancy gatherings. Ranging from Gregorian chant to Handel's Messiah, from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to the postmodern work of Philip Glass, Swafford is an affable and expert guide to the genre

He enjoyed it very much and did learn something he was Caroline Mast This was a gift to my husbanda retired musician and conductor whose main avocation now is reading books on composers and all music. He enjoyed it very much and did learn something he was not aware of in his knowledge of music.. "good overview" according to musicnerd. Good overview for those unfamiliar to music appreciation. Swafford keeps it relatively short. Not a bad place to start from.. Five Stars Don (Palo Alto, CA) Great introduction for a non-musician.

It reminds those of us in the profession why we became musicians in the first place."-Leonard Slatkin, Conductor and Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra"Humbly and with great generosity of spirit, Jan Swafford opens the door to the world of classical music and encourages us to experience it through the emotions it evokes. His series of short sketches of composers and their works ring true, and, more importantly, send you running to listen to the music for yourself."-Emanuel Ax, Pianist"The genuine love of music is at the core of Jan Swafford's latest book. Swafford entertains as he informs. Mr. Slip a copy of Language of the Spirit into your pocket the next time you attend a symphony performance and consult it before the lights dim-Swafford will help you hear all the richness and depth of the music he so loves."-Elizabeth Lunday, author of Secret Lives of Great Composers. Unli

Jan Swafford is a preeminent composer and music scholar and the author of bestselling The Vintage Guide to Classical Music. . A regular contributor to Slate, the Guardian, and the Boston Globe and a former professor of composition at the Boston Conservatory, Swafford lives in Medford, Massachusetts