Music History Books

Teach Yourself Music History is a thoroughly enjoyable overview of all the major periods of Western music: Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic,

Balance your music history curriculum with this indispensable classroom resource! This long-awaited manual focuses exclusively on the female artists who haven't made it into most textbooks. Biographies,

Nominated for a spoken-word Grammy, this book combines Questlove's deep musical expertise with his curiosity about history, examining America over the past 50 years. Focusing on the years 1971 to the

Anyone who has ever read anything about a favorite musician will find that it is often the so-called trivia that makes things memorable about that person. Nowhere is this more apparent than in this book.

This groundbreaking study of slavery and spirituals is the first to place the unique voices of an enslaved people squarely within the context of their daily lives. A succinct history is woven into an

Prepare to be astonished by the tantalizing tidbits of music history collected by this author! Did you know about: The ballet that sparked a riot? The rock star who became an astrophysicist? The song that

Protest music is largely perceived as an unsubtle art form, a brand of songwriting that preaches to the converted. But popular music of all types has long given listeners food for thought. Fifty years

Many of the most enduring works carry an aura of mystery and remain little understood by modern listeners. But fear not! It's not as mystifying as it seems. Anyone can understand and appreciate Western art

This investigation of how music entered American homes and became a cultural institution that would expand to become a multibillion-dollar industry weaves a history of the evolution of pop music in tandem

Everything we do is music contains more than 50 fun, hands-on and thought-provoking activities, each taking a work by John Cage as a starting point and exploring the links between music, dance,

This resource starts with the radical assumption that opera is simply music, rather than the inaccessible, high-brown art form that many assume it to be. Not fluent in German or Italian? No worries - the

This universally acclaimed and award-winning book is an authoritative survey of the traditions of Western music by one of the most prominent and provocative musicologists of our time. The main five volumes

This book investigates the southern rap phenomenon and visits the gritty neighborhoods where T.I. and Lil Wayne grew up, kicks it with Big Boi in Atlanta, and speaks with artists like DJ Smurf and Ms.

Despite its extraordinary popularity and worldwide influence, the world of rap and hip hop is under constant attack. Impressions and interpretations of its meaning and power are perpetually being

A global approach to music across cultures – this book helps students listen to all music and understand its place in an interconnected world. Using a cross-cultural framework that balances coverage

Intended as a celebration of hip-hop music and culture, this collection of interviews ranges from Akrobatik and Rob Kelly to the legendary Chuck D and Big Daddy Kane. Also interviewed are Eric B., Black

In this resource, the author examines this landmark work, a score that continues to influence composers of film and classical music alike. The book begins with a biographical survey of Bernstein's

Produced in association with the Smithsonian and including images from the United States National Music Museum, this resource guides readers through the progression of music since its beginnings, discussing

This resource welcomes nonmajors to the art of listening to great music. Roger Kamien continues to focus on coverage of the elements of music, fostering each student’s unique path to listening and

In this book, the author examines how ska music first emerged in Jamaica as a fusion of popular, traditional, and even classical musical forms. As a genre, it was a connection to Africa, a means of

This classic anthology of Western Music includes details from the Ancient to Baroque periods. A definitive guide to the music of those times.

This third volume of the classic music history series focuses on Western Music of the 20th Century. A standard book that belongs in every musician's library.