--- product_id: 4469646 title: "The Vintage Guide to Classical Music: An Indispensable Guide for Understanding and Enjoying Classical Music" price: "4510 kr" currency: ISK in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.is/products/4469646-the-vintage-guide-to-classical-music-an-indispensable-guide-understanding store_origin: IS region: Iceland --- # The Vintage Guide to Classical Music: An Indispensable Guide for Understanding and Enjoying Classical Music **Price:** 4510 kr **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Vintage Guide to Classical Music: An Indispensable Guide for Understanding and Enjoying Classical Music - **How much does it cost?** 4510 kr with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.is](https://www.desertcart.is/products/4469646-the-vintage-guide-to-classical-music-an-indispensable-guide-understanding) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Vintage Guide to Classical Music: An Indispensable Guide for Understanding and Enjoying Classical Music [Swafford, Jan] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Vintage Guide to Classical Music: An Indispensable Guide for Understanding and Enjoying Classical Music Review: "The Vintage Guide to Classical Music" by Jan Swafford - Striking a Responsive Chord - Music has been an important part of my life from the beginning. Somewhere in a dust-covered box lies a 45-RPM vinyl record of me as a 2 year-old belting out "Jesus Loves Me" at a church fair in Newburyport, Massachusetts! Beginning in the third grade, I studied violin and piano, and added organ in my junior high years. Singing has continued to be part of my life - solo work, choruses, church choirs and on stage - since my auspicious beginnings as a tuneful toddler! I took some basic courses in music appreciation as part of my liberal arts undergraduate education. So, my knowledge of classical music is probably deeper than that of most individuals who are not professional musicians. Consequently, I was amazed and delighted with how much new information I learned as I worked my way through Jan Swafford's "The Vintage Guide to Classical Music: An Indispensable Guide for Understanding and Enjoying Classical Music." Mr. Swafford is an award-winning composer and musicologist who currently lectures in English as a faculty member at Tufts University here in the Boston area. Swafford sets the tone for the book in the opening paragraph of his introduction: "Enduring works of music not only refelct their composers and their times, but have the capacity to reflect many peoples and many times. While every kind of music is intended to be heard, some is meant to be reheard and re-created in new performances, to grow in meaning, to become part of our lives and our culture, to represent the best we've done. In societies both Western and Eastern, these qualities define a body of music that is called 'classical.'" This very helpful tome is actually comprised of several books in one. At one level it is a chronological history of classical music. At another level, it is a compendium of mini-biographies of close to one hundred significant composers. Each biography ends with suggestions regarding which compositions by this composer would serve as the best introduction to his work. The book also contains a comprehensive glossary of musical terms, and offers a practical guide to building a classical music library. This volume is a portable treasure chest of fascinating and useful information for any lover of music - or for anyone who wants to learn more about, and better appreciate, good music. It has already made a difference in the way that I listen to music - my own CD's and WCRB, Boston's local classical FM station (102.5 on your FM dial!) Before reading this book, I had little exposure to, or appreciation of, American composer Charles Ives. Swafford has managed the whet my appetite for Ives' music, and I plan to add some of Ives' compositions to my personal collection. I also found fascinating the relationships and interconnections among many of the 19th century European composers. For example, the complex relationships among Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, and Schumann's wife, Clara, are the stuff of soap opera. For Swafford, this book was clearly a labor of love. He does a masterful job of harmonizing his passion for music with his erudition and broad knowledge of the full spectrum of classical music - from the Renaissance up to recent times. I can't think of a single music lover I know who would not find something of value and delight in this book. Enjoy! Al Review: A great introduction - I bought my first copy of this book back in 1993. As a young adult and wanting to expand my musical horizons by listening to and learning about classical music back then, this was one of the first books I purchased that provided biographical details along with information on their best known works. It also provided descriptions of musical terms and brief histories of the various eras of composition. It is written to educate and enhance the reader's enjoyment of the music and, at least in my case, direct the reader to expand and explore beyond what is just between the covers. I read my first copy in a few days and my then Boxer puppy chewed it up shortly thereafter when I carelessly left it out on the coffee table and he apparently needed a chew toy. As is my custom, the new found fervor for classical music waned a bit--I went on the jazz for awhile and still listened to my classic rock--but returned again a couple years ago. During my initial phase of zeal in the early 90s at the height of the cd boom, most box sets and double disc sets were beyond what I could afford. Classical discs always seemed to be priced slightly higher than other genres and that included single discs from the major label. My newly regained zeal coupled with the much lower cost of the cds prodded me into wanting to re-read what I may have forgotten and even what didn't fit my tastes back then. So I found this book again, ordered a new copy, and read cover to cover in a few days making notes of other composers and works I'd have to check out online and maybe purchase in the future. So yes, I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone with an interest in and love for the great composers and their masterworks. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #50,225 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #7 in Music Appreciation (Books) #25 in Music Reference (Books) #53 in Music History & Criticism (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 358 Reviews | ## Images ![The Vintage Guide to Classical Music: An Indispensable Guide for Understanding and Enjoying Classical Music - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71kAJTbfAjL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "The Vintage Guide to Classical Music" by Jan Swafford - Striking a Responsive Chord *by A***E on June 2, 2006* Music has been an important part of my life from the beginning. Somewhere in a dust-covered box lies a 45-RPM vinyl record of me as a 2 year-old belting out "Jesus Loves Me" at a church fair in Newburyport, Massachusetts! Beginning in the third grade, I studied violin and piano, and added organ in my junior high years. Singing has continued to be part of my life - solo work, choruses, church choirs and on stage - since my auspicious beginnings as a tuneful toddler! I took some basic courses in music appreciation as part of my liberal arts undergraduate education. So, my knowledge of classical music is probably deeper than that of most individuals who are not professional musicians. Consequently, I was amazed and delighted with how much new information I learned as I worked my way through Jan Swafford's "The Vintage Guide to Classical Music: An Indispensable Guide for Understanding and Enjoying Classical Music." Mr. Swafford is an award-winning composer and musicologist who currently lectures in English as a faculty member at Tufts University here in the Boston area. Swafford sets the tone for the book in the opening paragraph of his introduction: "Enduring works of music not only refelct their composers and their times, but have the capacity to reflect many peoples and many times. While every kind of music is intended to be heard, some is meant to be reheard and re-created in new performances, to grow in meaning, to become part of our lives and our culture, to represent the best we've done. In societies both Western and Eastern, these qualities define a body of music that is called 'classical.'" This very helpful tome is actually comprised of several books in one. At one level it is a chronological history of classical music. At another level, it is a compendium of mini-biographies of close to one hundred significant composers. Each biography ends with suggestions regarding which compositions by this composer would serve as the best introduction to his work. The book also contains a comprehensive glossary of musical terms, and offers a practical guide to building a classical music library. This volume is a portable treasure chest of fascinating and useful information for any lover of music - or for anyone who wants to learn more about, and better appreciate, good music. It has already made a difference in the way that I listen to music - my own CD's and WCRB, Boston's local classical FM station (102.5 on your FM dial!) Before reading this book, I had little exposure to, or appreciation of, American composer Charles Ives. Swafford has managed the whet my appetite for Ives' music, and I plan to add some of Ives' compositions to my personal collection. I also found fascinating the relationships and interconnections among many of the 19th century European composers. For example, the complex relationships among Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, and Schumann's wife, Clara, are the stuff of soap opera. For Swafford, this book was clearly a labor of love. He does a masterful job of harmonizing his passion for music with his erudition and broad knowledge of the full spectrum of classical music - from the Renaissance up to recent times. I can't think of a single music lover I know who would not find something of value and delight in this book. Enjoy! Al ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great introduction *by T***T on August 28, 2019* I bought my first copy of this book back in 1993. As a young adult and wanting to expand my musical horizons by listening to and learning about classical music back then, this was one of the first books I purchased that provided biographical details along with information on their best known works. It also provided descriptions of musical terms and brief histories of the various eras of composition. It is written to educate and enhance the reader's enjoyment of the music and, at least in my case, direct the reader to expand and explore beyond what is just between the covers. I read my first copy in a few days and my then Boxer puppy chewed it up shortly thereafter when I carelessly left it out on the coffee table and he apparently needed a chew toy. As is my custom, the new found fervor for classical music waned a bit--I went on the jazz for awhile and still listened to my classic rock--but returned again a couple years ago. During my initial phase of zeal in the early 90s at the height of the cd boom, most box sets and double disc sets were beyond what I could afford. Classical discs always seemed to be priced slightly higher than other genres and that included single discs from the major label. My newly regained zeal coupled with the much lower cost of the cds prodded me into wanting to re-read what I may have forgotten and even what didn't fit my tastes back then. So I found this book again, ordered a new copy, and read cover to cover in a few days making notes of other composers and works I'd have to check out online and maybe purchase in the future. So yes, I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone with an interest in and love for the great composers and their masterworks. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Splendid Gateway *by E***H on October 15, 2014* It sounds simple enough: write a series of short essays about all the classical composers that truly matter. The result though is actually a coherent and comprehensive tour through the language of the music, the composers themselves, and the evolution of the techniques and orchestration used over the centuries - and it is FUN to read. The writing style is jaunty and descriptive and deeply reflective of the music being described. Try to describe sound, music, has got to be one of the most difficult challenges there is in writing but Jan Swafford never waivers, the book is compelling and colorful all the way through. Picked at random, here's a typical description: "In contrast to the thunderous playing of Liszt, Chopin never used fortissimo but rather shaded his dynamics downward toward the intimate and nearly inaudible." Or how about this description of Wagner: "By the late nineteenth century he would haunt the Western cultural tradition as pervasive myth and sacred monster." You just must read on. This book also provides carefully chosen advice on which music you should start with for each composer. Within the body of the book these are detailed with Swafford usual colorful and concise language. At the back an appendix summarizes are the recommendations. So far this appendix has cost me several hundred dollars in happily spent purchases, with many more to come. If you are at all interested in the subject of classical music then this is a splendid gateway. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Vintage Guide to Classical Music: An Indispensable Guide for Understanding and Enjoying Classical Music - The Complete Classical Music Guide (DK Ultimate Guides) - Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.is/products/4469646-the-vintage-guide-to-classical-music-an-indispensable-guide-understanding](https://www.desertcart.is/products/4469646-the-vintage-guide-to-classical-music-an-indispensable-guide-understanding) --- *Product available on Desertcart Iceland* *Store origin: IS* *Last updated: 2026-04-27*