Understanding and Appreciating Beautiful Music

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More than ever, our children are bombarded with filth, ugliness, and violence, especially in what passes as “music” these days. For several generations now, Catholics youth have, in general, remained ignorant of the glorious heritage of beautiful music that was produced for many centuries before our modern times. Yet good music is critical for the mind, the will, and the regulation of the passions. This book is a short introduction intended to help achieve this.

Topics covered are: some fundamentals of music (melody, harmony, rhythm); the basics of an orchestra and the various families of instruments; music as an imitation of life; the various musical periods: Gregorian Chant, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary. In each of these eras, the primary composers are identified and short biographies are included.

So that the student can directly experience some of the beautiful music composed through the centuries, he is guided through over 120 carefully-chosen audio tracks.

Truly an excellent introduction for our youth! Recommended grades: 9 – 12. 135 pages.