Understanding Music. Philosophy and Interpretation

First edition in paperback, 2016.

Roger Scruton is one of the most notable British philosophers of the post-war years. Like many, Bernard Williams and Brian Magee among them, he is passionately interested in music. Indeed he has written two operas.
This new book applies the theory to the practice and examines a number of composers and musical forms ? from Scruton?s fascination with Wagner to Boulez and Hoagy Carmichael. The consistent and passionate argument underlying the book is one for tonality and rhythm.

CONTENIDO:

Part I: Aesthetics
Introduction
Sounds
Wittgenstein on music
Movement
Expression
Rhytm

Part II: Criticism
My Mozart
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
The trial of Richard Wagner
A first shot at The Ring
True authority: Janacek, Schoenberg and us
Thoughts on Szymanowski
Why read Adorno?

Bibliography