Clear explanations and readable, enjoyable writing help non-majors develop an appreciation for music and the listening skills to explore it further. Joseph Kerman and Gary Tomlinson, both known as leading musicologists and inspirational teachers, make music approachable and personal, encouraging students to engage in focused listening.
The clearest "Listening Charts" available provide visual roadmaps of the structure and main events of key music selections. Each "Listening Chart" fits on a single page so that students can easily follow the description while listening to the music. More detailed accompanying discussions of each piece guide students through multiple listenings.
The best available recordings introduce students to great works of music through the highest quality performances. With Listen's flexible recordings package, you can choose the 6-CD set, the 3-CD set, or the new streaming music option—whichever works best for your course.
The free Companion DVD in every copy of the print book enhances students' listening experience with 30 minutes of opera video clips from Mozart's Don Giovanni, Berg's Wozzeck, and Adams' El Niño. An additional forty-five minutes of free music on the DVD provides all the examples for the "Listening Exercises" in Unit I, which help students practice listening for fundamental elements.
Four “Prelude” chapters and fine art, photographs, and maps throughout the book provide the cultural and historical context students need to understand the styles, forms, and innovations of each musical period. Captivating composer biographies provide additional background information and suggestions for further listening.
“Global Perspectives” sections offer flexible coverage of non-Western music, strategically placed at the ends of select chapters. These optional sections focus on broad similarities and common elements of Western and non-Western traditions as a starting point for comparison and contrast. It's easy to integrate as many selections as you need for your course.