prolog

Ⅰ
The musical ecstasy of a single cello - Bach, Unaccompanied Cello Suites
Rhythm and Harmony that Embroidered the King's Boat - Handel, Water Music
Into the Melody of the Chaconne - Bach, Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D minor
Music resonating from a coffee shop - Bach, Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major
Seasonal Landscapes Painted in Sound - Vivaldi, Concerto "The Four Seasons"
Oratorio Revived After 100 Years - Bach's St. Matthew Passion
Musical or Mathematical - Bach, Goldberg Variations
The Oratorio That Enchanted the King - Handel, Messiah

Ⅱ
The Turkish Style That Captivated Europe - Mozart, Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major
A mysterious chord rising like a dark cloud - Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor
Duet of Laughter and Tears - Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major
Andante of Sighs and Consolation - Mozart, Symphony No. 40 in G minor
The Joys and Sorrows of Life as Depicted by the Clarinet - Mozart, Clarinet Quintet in A Major
In Search of Lost Romance - Mozart, Clarinet Concerto in A major
Grant him eternal rest - Mozart, Requiem in D minor
The timpani strike that awakened the audience - Haydn, Symphony No. 94 in G major, 'Surprise'
Haydn's Last Concerto - Haydn, Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major

Ⅲ
God save the Emperor - Haydn, String Quartet No. 77 in C major, 'Emperor'
Praise the Lord, all peoples, with a loud voice - Haydn, Oratorio "The Creation"
A Lament of Youth Written in His Twenties - Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, "Pathétique"
Even Beethoven is sometimes sweet and warm - Beethoven, Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, 'Spring'
Time of Love, Stop - Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, "Moonlight"
Passion Running Towards Destruction - Beethoven, Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, "Kreutzer"
Forward through adversity! - Beethoven, Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, "Eroica"
Flames burning on a granite floor - Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, 'Appassionata'

Ⅳ
There is only one Beethoven - Beethoven, Violin Concerto in D major
Fate knocks at the door like this - Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C minor
Finding Peace While Walking in the Forest - Beethoven, Symphony No. 6 in F Major, "Pastoral"
Go Forward with Confidence - Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, "Emperor"
A Lifelong Reciprocal Friendship - Beethoven, Piano Trio No. 7 in B-flat major, "Archduke"
Drink and dance like Dionysus - Beethoven, Symphony No. 7 in A major
A Symphony Created on a Single Piano - Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, "Hammerklavier"
Embrace the Million - Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, 'Choral'
Must it be so? It must be so. - Beethoven, String Quartet No. 16 in F major

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When you fall in love with music, the door to music opens!

I heard it! No, I ended up hearing it.
It could be on the street, in a cafe, at work, or at home.
Music has penetrated our hearts.
At times like this, we look around.
You have to know what that music is.
That way, you can buy CDs or LPs or go to concerts.
It's similar to the desperation you feel when you meet someone you love at first sight and want to check them out.
"Excuse me, who composed this music and who performed it?" Moonhaksu and his book, "The Classic," will warmly welcome you.
Through this book, you will be able to learn more about the music that came to you like your first love, whether it be Bach's Goldberg Variations or Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 29.

- Kang Shin-ju (philosopher)

▶ The first step in the "The Classic" series
- The ultimate classic guide that combines humanist writing with practicality.

What music, what albums should I listen to? The author of "Adagio Sostenuto," beloved for her deep love of music and sensuous writing, has published her second book, "The Classics - From Bach to Beethoven" (Volume 1 in the "The Classics" series).
The first volume of the series contains 34 classical masterpieces from the late Baroque period to the early Romantic period, from Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suites to Beethoven's String Quartet No. 16 in F major.
If the previous work attempted to break down the long-held prejudice that classical music is unfamiliar and difficult, this book is a friendly guide for readers who are seriously considering which songs and albums to listen to.


The strength of this book lies in the exquisite combination of the author's characteristically delicate writing as a humanist and the practicality of a guide to famous songs and albums.
The elegant sentences that were already well-received in the previous work are fully displayed in this book as well.
The author examines the musician's individual temperament and inner self, the circumstances and social background of his time, and writes down the stories contained in each of the 34 songs.
For example, the author's deep understanding of music history is evident in the following passages: explaining Haydn's move to England as a "musical historical transition" in which musicians who had been subordinate to the nobility entered the capitalist system; explaining Vitali and Bach's Chaconne as the emotional differences between Italy and Germany; and describing Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, "Eroica," as "the classicism that emphasized form and the romanticism that emphasized the free expression of emotion (...) passionately mixing."
Of course, at the foundation of this kind of humanistic writing lies the author's love for music as a music lover.


In addition to its humanistic depth, this book also serves as a classic guide from a practical perspective.
This series, planned in three volumes, introduces 101 'essential masterpieces' that should never be missed in the history of classical music.
The second book, due out in the second half of this year, will feature music from the Romantic era, from Schubert to Brahms, while the third will cover music from Mahler at the turn of the century to the 20th century.
The ambitious goal of this book is to showcase the essence of classical music through 101 songs.

Additionally, at the end of each chapter, three carefully selected recommended albums of the song are introduced.
There are a total of 100 albums, ranging from historical masterpieces to masterpieces by skilled performers.
In addition to existing albums that have a reputation as masterpieces, it also includes albums recorded in the 2000s that are not to be missed.
Of course, it wasn't chosen arbitrarily by the author.
We consulted major music magazines from various countries and listened closely to the opinions of domestic critics and music industry insiders.
In particular, the performances included in the recommended albums are ones that the author has listened to countless times, and rather than just lamenting the performances, he explains the strengths and weaknesses of the performances from his own critical perspective.
For example, regarding Karl Böhm's 1971 recording of Mozart's Requiem in D minor, he praised it as "an interpretation that deeply projects the inherent tragedy with a flowing flow," and regarding Hogwood's recording of the same piece (1980s), he delicately distinguished the characteristics of each performance, saying, "Among the many performances of Requiem, this one stands out for its 'sadness.'"
The author, who confesses that “since readers are actually opening their wallets, I couldn’t help but feel reverent when choosing a single album,” is confident that this selection will be the ultimate guide for readers who are struggling to decide which album to choose.


A "Music Letter" for those looking to break away from classical music.

Since the publication of his first book, the author has given numerous public lectures to hear firsthand the concerns readers have about classical music.
Readers have easy access to music through radio and smartphones, but they have difficulty opening their hearts and approaching music.
In that sense, this book is a 'ground lecture' for "those who are just about to open the door to classical music and take the first step, and those who have already fallen in love with the fun and emotion of music to some extent."


The author avoids expert commentary and approaches each song using simple terms and a sensitive writing style whenever possible.
This is a consideration to alleviate the vague sense of unfamiliarity and fear that people who are just starting out in classical music may feel.
In particular, at the end of the commentary, points to appreciate for each movement of each song are summarized.
When listening to music, it emphasizes passages that the average listener might miss, or conveys the basic emotions contained in each song.
Of course, it doesn't stop there. Through the song, the author expresses his own feelings in his own unique, sensual language.
For example, the commentary describing the first movement, 'Summer', of Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' is fascinating.


“In the season when the sun shines strongly, people and livestock lose their vitality, and the trees and grasses become exhausted from the heat.
The cuckoo chirps, the wood pigeons and the blackbirds sing.
A pleasant breeze blows from somewhere.
Then suddenly the north wind blows over the breeze, and the shepherd, fearing the rain, laments his misfortune and weeps.” Listen to the scene where the solo violin depicts the cuckoo's cry.
Next, the songs of the wood pigeon and the blackbird are heard.
The scene of the north wind blowing is powerfully played by the entire ensemble, and the shepherd's tears are again expressed by the sad melody of the solo violin.
(Page 63)

Also, in the fourth movement of Beethoven's late work, String Quartet No. 16 in F major, a sensual commentary connects the musician's last life with the piece.


The fourth movement begins with a slow and gloomy introduction.
This final movement, with its titular phrase "A difficult decision," is cryptically written with the words "Must it be so?" and "It must be so," giving rise to various interpretations.
(……) The music flows in the form of a ‘question and answer’ where the viola and cello ask heavily, ‘Should it be so?’ and the violin softly answers, ‘It must be so.’
At first he was hesitant, but then his tone of voice gradually grew more confident and his answers became more intense.
So the 'It has to be that way!' that appears at the end is very strong and firm.
That is the 'last word' that Beethoven left behind in music.
(Page 350)

In this way, the author's deep love for music and musicians is evident in every page of this book.
Rather than providing expert commentary, the author aims for empathy, hoping that readers will share the same emotions he received from music.
For some readers, it might feel like receiving a 'musical letter' from a friend or lover.


It takes stamina to listen to music

Classical music has evolved from being the exclusive domain of the upper class to music enjoyed by ordinary people today.
But many people still feel distant from classical music.
The author points out that the reason is that we live hectic lives, absorbed in work and other entertainment.
Because listening to music requires leisure in life and the empty space in your heart that comes from it.
On the other hand, it is pointed out that although classical music has become easily accessible through various media, this 'abundance' has actually reduced the desire for music.


So, how can we truly experience and enjoy music in this reality? The author offers readers some helpful advice.
First, listen to the 34 songs introduced in this book repeatedly.
From the author's experience, music is an art that is not understood with the head, but rather felt with the whole body.
If we keep listening to it, it will eventually be stored in our bodies, and when the melody and harmony of the song are memorized, at some point the overall structure of the music will unfold before our eyes.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the author emphasizes ‘endurance’ as a virtue of listening to classical music.
Because listening to classical music requires more time and patience than any other genre of art.
The author explains that only when we are ready to knock on the door of classical music with such 'earnestness' will music truly become a companion in our lives.
In that respect, the "The Classics" series, which selects the best musical heritage of humanity, will be an invaluable guide for readers seeking to delve into music.