Roaming through the history of music

Brand new and yet already showing clear signs of use! Not that I read it through in one night, but I took this book out again and again, read it chapter by chapter, consulted it. This is not a conventional history of music, which compiles facts clearly and concisely and thus fixes them somewhat too clearly, but a reader. It's not just a matter of having sound knowledge (which is a necessary prerequisite), but at least as much about the selection made and how the parts are combined and presented. Conveying music history based on the latest findings, satisfying for connoisseurs but also understandable for laymen, is an art. A team led by the two editors Tobias Bleek and Ulrich Mosch takes us on a journey through twelve centuries, from 800 to 2000. Yes, even more, it starts in antiquity and extends into recent times. Pop music 2.0 is also included - as well as our changed listening habits.

Let us stop here briefly at that extravagant ars subtilior around 1400, which was soon replaced by sweeter English tones. The book does not present it to us as hopeless mannerism, but as music that sought to express emotional and creative nuances through the means of notation, construction and intertextuality - at a time when Europe and, above all, the Church were divided. All this is vividly told, fortunately with the courage to tell an enlightening anecdote, because music history also consists of stories. The illustrations not only illustrate, but complement. Inserts outline technical terms and highlight further details. Every teacher will find plenty of material and inspiration here. So-called U-music appears as well as - less frequently - non-European music. At the same time, sociological, political, media and technical aspects of music are also taken into account. Finally, there is even a chapter on music distribution on the internet. The only drawback is that the paper is quite heavy and smells a little strong. But otherwise the book is warmly recommended for use.

Tobias Bleek / Ulrich Mosch (ed.): Music. A journey through 12 centuries, 397 p., numerous illustrations, € 34.95, Bärenreiter/Henschel, Kassel/Leipzig 2018, ISBN 978-3-7618-2233-3