If the preceding book is an example of how not to write for the lay reader, this is a triumphant example of how to. Aaron Copland deals with all aspects of appreciating classical music in a sensible and intelligent way. The reader is meant to understand and should come away with a new and deeper understanding. Copeland writes in a popular way, but does not talk down, nor avoid the technical. Instead topics like Sonata Form or Counterpoint are tackled head on. Of course, the topics are much deeper than they are presented here, but so what? I at least feel that I have gained a lot from this little book. If you're interested in classical music but find most commentaries either too trivial or too complex, then this could be the book for you.
New American Library, 192 pages
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