The History of Classical Music cover art

The History of Classical Music

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The History of Classical Music

By: Richard Fawkes
Narrated by: Robert Powell
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £12.78

Buy Now for £12.78

About this listen

From Gregorian Chant to Henryk Gorecki, the first living classical composer to get into the pop album charts, here is the fascinating story of over a thousand years of Western classical music and the composers who have sought to express in music the deepest of human feelings and emotions. Polyphony, sonata form, serial music - many musical expressions are also explained - with the text illustrated by performances from some of the most highly praised recordings of recent years.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©1997 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd. (P)1997 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd. History & Criticism Music Classics
All stars
Most relevant
This is a short but well constructed introduction to western classical music, starting with its origins as sacred chanting. There are helpful excerpts of music throughout the audiobook, not too long but enough to aurally illustrate the authors text. Very well read by Robert Powell. One would expect no less.

Good introduction to world of western muisc - sacred and classical

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a very informative audio book that takes you through the history of music . It is well presented by the actor Robert Powell whose' rich voice does the subject justice. A very interesting and absorbing way of taking in information!

Very pleasant way to read a book !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It is helpful for me at this stage. The book provides a big picture with details. I enjoy the narrator’s performance and the music excerpts. There are bits here and there that I don’t follow but they are the reason to learn more about such a fascinating topic.

I like it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved all the little clips of music throughout the audiobook. Excellent introduction into classical music. Highly recommended.

Fantastic audiobook

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Initially I thought this production was 50 hours, no 5! Could have listened to it for days

Concise and clear

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews