Curious About Classical?

Have you been meaning to explore classical music? Are you interested in composers, but don’t know where to begin? Do you find that the liner notes of your classical CD’s are lacking in detail? Dayton Metro Library has a series of books that are perfect for budding listeners as well as more experienced classical music fans.

The Unlocking the Masters series of books offers insight into the lives and works of twelve of the world’s most famous composers, including Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, and Mahler. Each book begins with some background information to put the work in a sort of cultural context, then dissects each piece of music in rich, descriptive language. If you aren’t familiar with some of the terms, don’t worry- there is an extensive glossary in the back of the book.

What really makes these books special is the full length audio CD included with each volume. Not only do you learn what the composer wrote, and why, but you get to actually hear the end result. Regardless of your level of knowledge, this series is sure to bring you closer to the music and the people who composed it.

- Zachary Hill, Main Library