Description
A History of the Symphony: The Grand Genre identifies the underlying cultural factors that have shaped the symphony over the past three hundred years, presenting a unified view of the entire history of the genre. The text goes beyond discussions of individual composers and the stylistic evolution of the genre to address what constitutes a symphony within each historical period, describing how such works fit into the lives of composers and audiences of the time, recognizing that they do not exist in a vacuum but rather as the products of numerous external forces spurring their creation.
In three parts, the text proceeds chronologically, drawing connections between musical examples across regions and eras:
- The Classical Symphony
- The Romantic Symphony
- The Symphony in the Modern Era
Within this broad chronology--from the earliest Italian symphonies of the 18th century to the most experimental works of the 20th century--discussion of the development of the genre often breaks down along national lines that outline divergent but parallel paths of stylistic growth. In consideration of what is and is not a symphony, musical developments in other genres are presented as they relate to the symphony, genres such as the serenade, the tone poem, and the concert overture. Suitable for a one-semester course as well as a full-year syllabus, and with illustrative musical examples throughout, A History of the Symphony places composers and works in sociological and musical contexts while confronting the fundamental question: What is a symphony?
Author: Jeffrey Langford
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 11/13/2019
Pages: 262
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.90h x 6.80w x 0.70d
ISBN13: 9780815357056
ISBN10: 0815357052
BISAC Categories:
- Music | Musical Instruments | General
About the Author
Jeffrey Langford is Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, NY.
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