Introduction To A Philosophy Of Music

Description:
Philosophy of music has flourished in the last thirty years, with great advances made in the understanding of the nature of music and its aesthetics. Peter Kivy has been at the centre of this flourishing, and now offers his personal introduction to philosophy of music, a clear and lively explanation of how he sees the most important and interesting philosophical issues relating to music. Anyone interested in music will find this a stimulating introduction to some fascinating questions and ideas.

Review:
Though not a textbook, Kivy's book neatly covers the history of musical aesthetics from Plato onwards, and thus could easily be used in philosophy of music classes. The Philosophical Quarterly Written clearly and engagingly, Peter Kivy's introduction to musical aesthetics usefully summarizes his own influential views on various issues in the philosophy of music. The Philosophical Quarterly Peter Kivy is the most influential and prolific author on the philosophy of music within the analytical tradition ... Kivy has written a very readable and elegantly composed philosophy of music, which requires no prior knowledge of musicological terminology. The treasures of the book are the keen analyses of the issues, the sophisticated argumentations, and the wealth of relevant arguments ... It is a most valuable book for those who want to confront their views of music with one of the best-argued positions in musical aesthetics. British Journal of Aesthetics

Table of Contents:
Preface; 1. Philosophy of..; 2. A Little History; 3. Emotions in the Music; 4. A Little More History; 5. Formalism; 6. Enhanced Formalism; 7. The Emotions in You; 8. Foes of Formalism; 9. First the Words: Then the Music; 10. Words without Songs; 11. The Work; 12. And the Performace Thereof; 13. Why Should you Listen?; Readings and References, Index