Course: Understanding and Appreciating Beautiful Music
A Traditional Catholic Perspective

Publisher's Description:

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More than ever, our children are bombarded with filth, ugliness, and violence, especially in what passes as “music” these days. For several generations now, Catholics youth have, in general, remained ignorant of the glorious heritage of beautiful music that was produced for many centuries before our modern times. Yet good music is critical for the mind, the will, and the regulation of the passions. This book is a short introduction intended to help achieve this, and to allow our youth to learn and directly experience by listening to many samples of the truly beautiful music created through the centuries.

The book covers some fundamentals of music (melody, harmony, rhythm); the basics of an orchestra and the various families of instruments; music as an imitation of life; the various musical periods: Gregorian Chant, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary. In each of these eras, the primary composers are identified and short biographies are included. An excellent introduction for our youth. Recommended grades: 9 – 12.