Music as an Art

Music as an Art begins by examining music through a philosophical lens, engaging in discussions about tonality, music and the moral life, music and cognitive science and German idealism, as well as recalling the author's struggle to encourage his students to distinguish the qualities of good music. Scruton then explains - via erudite chapters on Schubert, Britten, Rameau, opera and film - how we can develop greater judgement in music, recognising both good taste and bad, establishing musical values, as well as musical pleasures.As Scruton argues in this book, in earlier times, our musical culture had secure foundations in the church, the concert hall and the home; in the ceremonies and celebrations of ordinary life, religion and manners. Yet we no longer live in that world. Fewer people now play instruments and music is, for many, a form of largely solitary enjoyment. As he shows in Music as an Art, we live at a critical time for classical music, and this book is an important contribution to the debate, of which we stand in need, concerning the place of music in Western civilization.

Includes musical examples

IntroductionPART I: PHILOSOPHICAL INVESTIGATIONS1 When is a Tune?2 Music and Cognitive Science3 Music and the Moral Life4 Music and the Transcendental5 Tonality6 German IdealismPART II: CRITICAL EXPLORATIONS7 Franz Schubert and the Quartettsatz8 Rameua the Musician9 Britten's Dirge10 David Matthews11 Reflections on Deaths in Venice12 Pierre Boulez13 Film Music14 The Assault on Opera15 Nietzsche on Wagner16 The Music of the Future17 The Culture of PopBibliographyAcknowledgementsIndexA Note on the Author