Shibboleths and Ploughshares

DOES MUSIC CONTAIN EMOTION? DOES MUSIC HAVE MEANING?

These questions are at the heart of musical experience, for performers, amateurs, teachers and audiences. Michelene Wandor’s readable and provocative book ranges from the early music revival, via the Doctrine of Affects to today’s historical performance practice. Surveying key musicological texts, the book includes interviews with conservatoire teachers and performers, including Sir Roger Norrington. The book argues for the power of music, encouraging everyone to think about what music means – to them personally, as an art form and as a rich experience to be enjoyed.