Books

The Music Kit -4th Edition

W.W.Norton and Co. (1976-2003)

Now in its 4th edition, The Music Kit has been a best selling college text for music fundamentals since 1976. The book comes either alone or with computer programs. The 5th Edition of The Music Kit arrives in 2012. It features new and exiting music/educational materials that can be downloaded from the web as a supplement to the book.

9780393951943-1

Music: A Living Language

W.W. Norton and Co. (1982)

“A masterpiece of clarity. A joy to read for understanding of an art which comes to life in the chapters of this book.” – ELSIE L. BUCH, Andrews University

I’ve always considered Music: A Living Language my most important work about music, a book which embodies my deepest sense about what music means as a world art. The chance to bring it back to the world in a new, exciting and affordable text for college students will be a high point of my life’s work.

Music: A Living Language was the first major college text to explore all music traditions as having equal value. A new web-version of the book will arrive in 2012-2013. This e-book will enable teachers to choose from a variety of plans to meet different situations and musical taste. At the center of the book will be a newly created media package that brings history, ideas and musical concepts to life for the average non-music major.

Like the original book, offers (as one choice) a complete presentation of music appreciation based in traditional historic eras, with forays into other musical styles.

However, it also allows for a course not based in historical eras, but in cross-stylistic views of genre, style, form and structure. Within that option, the teacher can assign the traditional historical material as shortened overviews.

Stylistically, Music: A Living Language will reflect the author’s 26 years of reviewing music and communicating ideas about it and to millions of listeners on NPR’s All Things Considered. Manoff’s reviews and commentary are known for their high level of content delivered in an easy-going radio style. As part of the new Music: A Living Language, students will be able to download or stream audio clips similar to Manoff’s NPR style.

Reviews of Music: A Living Language

“Of the half-dozen or so books on muisc appreciation that I have seen in the past decade, Music: A Living Language is the only one that makes a truly new contribution to the field. It is one thing to attempt to do what Manoff has done; it is quite another to accomplish the task.”

STEPHEN E. GILBERT, California State University,Fresno

“This is one of the most beautifully organized and conceptually exciting books of its type to emerge in recent years.”

CAROL ROGEL SCOTT, Seattle Pacific University

“The cosmological approach used by the author challenges the imagination of each and every student. One receives the impression of a very large painting of a very large canvas…”

LAVERN WAGNER, Quincy College

“Truly a remarkable book…”

CHARLES L.MOSBY, Southwestern at Memphis

“In my opinion, this is one of the most important developments in music texts in recent times. The writing is so clear, informative, and cogent-the examples meaningful.”

MARK L. MECHAM, Mary College