Summary
"What to Listen For in Music," penned by the eminent composer Aaron Copland, serves as an illuminating guide for anyone seeking to deepen their appreciation of music. Copland, writing from the unique perspective of a composer, demystifies the listening process, encouraging readers to move beyond passive hearing and cultivate a more active and engaged relationship with music. The book emphasizes that understanding music is a skill honed through experience and learning, dispelling the notion that it requires innate talent or specialized knowledge.
Copland breaks down the listening experience into three distinct planes: the sensuous plane, where one appreciates the sheer beauty of the musical sound; the expressive plane, where music conveys a range of emotions and meanings; and the sheerly musical plane, which involves a conscious awareness of the notes themselves and their organization. The author advocates for a balanced approach, urging listeners not to fixate solely on one plane but to appreciate the interplay between them. He explores the essential elements of music—rhythm, melody, harmony, and tone color—elucidating their individual characteristics and how composers manipulate these elements to create diverse effects.
The book delves into the intricacies of musical forms, including sectional, fugal, sonata, and variation forms, providing a framework for understanding the structure and organization of musical compositions. Copland stresses the importance of recognizing repetition, a fundamental principle that underpins much of musical structure, while also acknowledging the significance of non-repetition in creating contrast and variety. He examines the roles of the composer and interpreter in shaping the musical experience, emphasizing the listener's responsibility to approach music with an open mind and a willingness to engage with unfamiliar idioms. To that end, Copland identifies leading composers and works within different categories of difficulty (very easy, quite approachable, fairly difficult, and very tough), helping readers navigate the vast landscape of classical music.
A new epilogue by Alan Rich provides updated context with a discussion of musical trends and technological advancements since the book’s original publication. The inclusion of recommended recordings, many of which are new to this edition, further enhances the listener's ability to explore the concepts presented. "What to Listen For in Music" is not just an instructional manual but an invitation to embark on a lifelong journey of musical discovery, encouraging readers to cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation for the art form.