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Book of Musical Knowledge

Arthur Elson

This book has been planned with a view to placing before the general reader the main facts that will enable him to appreciate music intelligently. One often hears the remark, "I’m fond of music, but I don’t understand it." The present work has been written with the idea of enabling the non-musician to comprehend the real meaning of the tonal art, and to familiarize himself with the value of the great composers’ works, the use of the instruments, the various musical forms, and a number of subjects of similar importance. At the same time, certain other technical topics have been included. While these have been presented in such a way as to be understood by the non-musician, they have been given with sufficient thoroughness to make the work useful also as a textbook. It is therefore fitted to the needs of students and teachers, as well as amateurs. An effort has been made to condense the chief points of a general musical education into a single volume. While this book should prove of interest to the average reader, a course of study has been added, which will make it suitable for use in high schools or colleges also, or in any institution that aims to give a course in the understanding of music. - Summary by Preface NOTE: As with all historical texts, the language used in this volume should be interpreted within the context of the entire work and the cultural context of its publication.