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‘Sharply insightful and vividly imaginative… the perfect Christmas gift for anyone asking: ‘How do I get into classical music?” – Rupert Christiansen, Mail on Sunday
‘A treat from the very first page… written with style and humour, this is a perfect introduction to classical music for a beginner, a companion for the music lover, and sheer entertainment for both.’ – Joanna Lumley
Nearly all of us have the capacity to enjoy classical music but too often we are put off by not knowing where to look, or what we are actually looking for. We feel the need of a guide to help navigate such vast and varied artistic terrain.
With this delightful book, historian Tim Bouverie provides just this. Drawing on his lifelong passion for music, he has created a compilation of 100 classical masterpieces sure to move and be enjoyed by almost anyone. Some are well-known, some more idiosyncratic, others hidden gems waiting to be brought into the light. All are intended to comfort and inspire. He provides a short introduction to each piece – variously anecdotal, personal, historical and quirky – and a recommended recording to try.
Highly accessible and entertaining, Perfect Pitch is filled with engrossing stories and insights that bring to life 300 years of the world’s greatest music.
An accompanying playlist is available on Spotify.
‘A treat from the very first page… written with style and humour, this is a perfect introduction to classical music for a beginner, a companion for the music lover, and sheer entertainment for both.’ – Joanna Lumley
Nearly all of us have the capacity to enjoy classical music but too often we are put off by not knowing where to look, or what we are actually looking for. We feel the need of a guide to help navigate such vast and varied artistic terrain.
With this delightful book, historian Tim Bouverie provides just this. Drawing on his lifelong passion for music, he has created a compilation of 100 classical masterpieces sure to move and be enjoyed by almost anyone. Some are well-known, some more idiosyncratic, others hidden gems waiting to be brought into the light. All are intended to comfort and inspire. He provides a short introduction to each piece – variously anecdotal, personal, historical and quirky – and a recommended recording to try.
Highly accessible and entertaining, Perfect Pitch is filled with engrossing stories and insights that bring to life 300 years of the world’s greatest music.
An accompanying playlist is available on Spotify.
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Reviews
This is exactly the book I want to read at the moment. Presented with style and humour, the choice of 100 pieces immediately starts you off a hunt for your own favourites... It's a perfect introduction to classical music for a beginner, a companion for the music lover, and sheer entertainment for both.
This generous and passionate response to human need at a time of global anxiety will transcend its troubled time, and remain a loving companion and opener of doors. Tim Bouverie's selection of music is wide-ranging, and his introductions to each piece astutely blend context and anecdote, always delivered with smiling and enthusiastic authority.
You are new to classical music? I can think of no better introduction. You already know your classical music? I can think of no better companion, no more rewarding way of extending your own knowledge. Use it to create and stimulate your own love for the most personal and intimate art form of all.
I think it's the most beautifully written explanation of classical music I have come across... It is both rich in detail, but also so brief (that's a real feat) and each short introduction left me on the edge of my seat, eager to hear the music.
A wonderful selection of music that nourishes the soul, giving comfort as well as joy. Both witty and profound, this is a book which provides insight into life as well as art.
Thank you to Tim Bouverie for this book which can be enjoyed as much by the hard-nosed professional as the beginner, anxious to learn something of this great music.
If you want to understand classical music but don't know where to start, this is the perfect introduction.