Title: Twentieth Century Music Idioms
· Author: G. Welton Marquis
· Publisher: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
· Copyright:1964
· ISBN#: as reviewed has no ISBN. Later 1981 edition 03113226245
· Genre: Music Theory
· Library Location: reference
· Author: G. Welton Marquis
· Publisher: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
· Copyright:1964
· ISBN#: as reviewed has no ISBN. Later 1981 edition 03113226245
· Genre: Music Theory
· Library Location: reference
· Summary: This book takes a different approach to music theory. From the beginnings of the subject J.S. Bach was taken as the starting point of good form and technical mastery. To this end you rarely get past Bach in a theory class. My best summary for this book would be “like normal theory… only starting in the 20th century.” It takes the rapid and inventive creativity of the modernists and looks at it from the same dispassionate view point that more tradition theory books would take toward Bach.
· Personal Comments: I chose this book for 2 reasons. One: Because what is life without whimsy! Studying the music of the experimentalist will make any one smile… just before it drives you mad. Two: I feel that after most classical musician cover their ears and eyes and refuse to acknowledge the existence of any music written after 1902. It is important to show kids as early as possible that “good” music is living and breathing and constantly being redefined just as it bucks the concept of definition. I could easily find myself lost within these pages being amazed at the creativity of people that most will never hear of. This is important.
· Suggested Use in Classroom: This book would be useful later in the school year for any real study but I would also like to bring it in a few times early on to show the kids through music how big the musical world is and just because the music isn’t couched in a pretty wrapper doesn’t mean its soul is ugly.
· Personal Comments: I chose this book for 2 reasons. One: Because what is life without whimsy! Studying the music of the experimentalist will make any one smile… just before it drives you mad. Two: I feel that after most classical musician cover their ears and eyes and refuse to acknowledge the existence of any music written after 1902. It is important to show kids as early as possible that “good” music is living and breathing and constantly being redefined just as it bucks the concept of definition. I could easily find myself lost within these pages being amazed at the creativity of people that most will never hear of. This is important.
· Suggested Use in Classroom: This book would be useful later in the school year for any real study but I would also like to bring it in a few times early on to show the kids through music how big the musical world is and just because the music isn’t couched in a pretty wrapper doesn’t mean its soul is ugly.