The DNA of Classical Music: How to Understand and Love the Work of Great Composers

What if music is a kind of genetic code that contains numerous hereditary data? This is the approach to exploring musical art proposed by the author of the book The DNA of Classical Music, Sergey Evdokimov. Sergey Evdokimov's extensive work... certainly stands out among hundreds of books on musicology and the history of academic music. In the pages of The DNA of Classical Music, the theoretical part intertwines with a historical overview of the most vivid musical phenomena, along with biographies of the most important musical figures. The author curiously resorts to terminology from the field of genetics, thereby opening up a completely new method of studying the history of academic art. This illustrated edition will help you rediscover the world of classical music and grasp the composer’s secrets hidden behind the exquisite sound. From this book you will learn: • How did musical notation originate and how was music recorded in ancient times? • When did rhythm first appear in melodies? • How to distinguish baroque from medieval music by ear? • How is a symphony orchestra structured? • What codes do composers embed in their works and how to learn to decipher them? • How to hear a melody merely by looking at the score? • What techniques in modern music have their roots in classical music? The book contains musical scores and discography that will aid in studying music theory, as well as a list of literature for further self-education. The author of the book, Sergey Evdokimov, graduated from the historical-theoretical faculty of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory. He engages in journalism, editing, and educational activities. His articles can be read in the publication Musical Seasons and on the portal ClassicalMusicNews.Ru.