Overview of The First Four Notes Book

A unique work of musical history, the first book to examine what is perhaps the most popular symphony ever written and its distinctive four-note opening, which has fascinated musicians, historians and philosophers for the last two hundred years. Music critic Matthew Guerrieri reaches back before Beethoven's time to examine what might have influenced him in writing his Fifth Symphony and forward into our own time to describe the ways in which the Fifth has, in turn, asserted its influence. He uncovers possible sources for the famous opening notes in the rhythms of ancient Greek poetry and certain French Revolutionary songs and symphonies. Guerrieri confirms that, contrary to popular belief, Beethoven was not deaf when he wrote the Fifth. He traces the Fifth's influence in China, Russia and the United States (Emerson and Thoreau were passionate fans) and shows how the masterpiece was used by both the Allies and the Nazis in World War II. Altogether, a fascinating piece of musical detective work, a treat for music lovers of every stripe. Key Features:Book of the Year: The First Four Notes was named Los Angeles Magazine's #1 Music Book of the Year, a Time Magazine Top 10 Nonfiction Book of 2012 and one of The New Yorker's Best Books of the Year. Large Music Audience: Intelligent, lively, informative books about classical music have proven to attract wide and long-standing readerships and paperback fans of Stuart Isacoff and William Berger will flock to Matthew Guerrieri. Unique Approach: No other book has examined the making of the Fifth Symphony in this way, authoritatively looking behind the myths that have surrounded it for two centuries. It is brimming with new, often surprising information about the music, the composer and the long reach of the symphony around the globe.

• Book Type :

Humanities

• Book Binding :

Paperback

• Language :

English

• Number of Pages :

599 pages

• ISBN - 10 :

0804170193

• The First Four Notes Published On :

4 Mar 2014

• Resource:

Textbooks, Humanities Books for Students, Teachers, Graudates, Professionals and all others

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• The First Four Notes Book is not for reading online or for free download in PDF or eBook format.
• Table of Contents,Index,Syllabus,summary and image of The First Four Notes book may be of a different edition or of the same title.
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