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Who Knew?

Answers to Questions about Classical Music you Never Thought to Ask

Robert A. Cutietta (Dean, Thorton School of Music, Dean, Thorton School of Music, University of Southern California)

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Paperback

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English
Oxford University Press Inc
01 October 2016
Did you ever leave an opera performance wondering why the singers use so much vibrato? Or a symphony, wondering who decided where on stage the orchestra members should sit, or why they tune their instruments to an oboe rather than an electronic tuner? Why is Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture played on the 4th of July? And how does a composer choose what key to compose in?

In Who Knew?: Answers to Questions about Classical Music You Never Thought to Ask, master music educator Robert A. Cutietta provides lucid answers to these and more than 140 other questions submitted by listeners to his popular weekly radio program. Through its pages, this highly readable guide touches on some of the most curiosity-inducing aspects of the tradition, from why audiences refrain from applauding between movements to how opera singers warm up on the night of a big debut. The responses are drawn from conversations with professional musicians and music educators, with additional contributions by Gail Eichenthal of KUSC, giving a rare glimpse into how musicians think and talk about their work. Lovers of classical music who would like to flesh out their understanding are sure to find a powerful resource in Cutietta's down-to-earth guide, and even seasoned listeners are sure to learn a thing or two. This book will provide hours of enjoyment as readers invariably shake their heads and ask in wonderment, ""Who knew!""
By:  
Imprint:   Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 208mm,  Width: 137mm,  Spine: 23mm
Weight:   363g
ISBN:   9780190462543
ISBN 10:   019046254X
Pages:   352
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Preface Chapter 1: The Orchestra and how it works Chapter 2: The Maestro and Music Director Chapter 3: The Opera and Diva Chapter 4: The Composer Chapter 5: The Performers Chapter 6: The Instruments of the Orchestra Chapter 7: The Music Chapter 8: This and That Sources of Quotes Index

One of the nation's most preeminent music educators, Robert A. Cutietta is Dean of the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California and author of Raising Musical Kids: A Guide for Parents (1st edition 2001; 2nd edition 2013).

Reviews for Who Knew?: Answers to Questions about Classical Music you Never Thought to Ask

For the past decade, Cutietta has been demystifying classical music for KUSC listeners in Los Angeles. Who Knew? captures the very best of his 'Ask the Dean' segment, illuminating the aspects of orchestral music that even its most avid listeners can find perplexing. Who Knew? is a lively, engaging, and affectionate dive into the music we love so much. --Deborah Borda. President and C.E.O., Los Angeles Philharmonic


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