Awkward Classics Lesson 4
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Description
Book Introduction
“Classical music, shall we start listening to it in earnest now?”
How many authors would be brave enough to open a book and honestly declare, "Classical music isn't easy," from the very beginning, to a reader eager to learn classical music? Perhaps it was Professor Min Eun-ki, author of "My First Classical Music Lesson" (hereafter, "Awkward Classical Music Lesson"), who was able to do so.
Professor Min Eun-ki is a diligent scholar who, while being a true researcher, has never strayed from reality.
He is a first-generation Korean musicologist who has been a professor of composition at Seoul National University since 1995, but he is also a social intellectual who has always met people outside of the university through numerous public lectures and writings.
Perhaps no other scholar has worked as hard as Professor Min Eun-ki to introduce the world of classical music to the vast majority of Koreans, despite his keen understanding that it may be unfamiliar.
Why classical music, anyway? According to the author, it's because classical music is a shared cultural heritage of humanity, a legacy we all share. It's a shame to live without it.
“Classical music is a type of music that moves you more deeply the more you listen to it.
You can listen to it for a long time without getting tired of it.
As is often the case with other things that bear the name of classic.”
If we are beings who have to listen to something to survive, then classic music, which is not influenced by trends, is probably the music genre that we can listen to for the longest time.
How many authors would be brave enough to open a book and honestly declare, "Classical music isn't easy," from the very beginning, to a reader eager to learn classical music? Perhaps it was Professor Min Eun-ki, author of "My First Classical Music Lesson" (hereafter, "Awkward Classical Music Lesson"), who was able to do so.
Professor Min Eun-ki is a diligent scholar who, while being a true researcher, has never strayed from reality.
He is a first-generation Korean musicologist who has been a professor of composition at Seoul National University since 1995, but he is also a social intellectual who has always met people outside of the university through numerous public lectures and writings.
Perhaps no other scholar has worked as hard as Professor Min Eun-ki to introduce the world of classical music to the vast majority of Koreans, despite his keen understanding that it may be unfamiliar.
Why classical music, anyway? According to the author, it's because classical music is a shared cultural heritage of humanity, a legacy we all share. It's a shame to live without it.
“Classical music is a type of music that moves you more deeply the more you listen to it.
You can listen to it for a long time without getting tired of it.
As is often the case with other things that bear the name of classic.”
If we are beings who have to listen to something to survive, then classic music, which is not influenced by trends, is probably the music genre that we can listen to for the longest time.
- You can preview some of the book's contents.
Preview
index
Ⅰ The Masters of Opera - The Roots of Performing Arts
01 The Great English Composer Handel 02 The God of Comprehensive Arts
II Passion Wins - Handel and Baroque Musicians
01 A rising star in Germany 02 Humanizing people's music
III. A Young Genius Throwing Himself into the Blue Ocean - State Power and Music
01 Preparing for the Future 02 London Landing Operation
Ⅳ In the midst of conflict - The rise and fall of English opera
01 The wind always blows at the top 02 Inside and outside the gorgeous curtain
V The Undying Flame of Show Business - The Music of the Ever-Beloved Masters
01 Career Peak 02 The Show Must Go On
01 The Great English Composer Handel 02 The God of Comprehensive Arts
II Passion Wins - Handel and Baroque Musicians
01 A rising star in Germany 02 Humanizing people's music
III. A Young Genius Throwing Himself into the Blue Ocean - State Power and Music
01 Preparing for the Future 02 London Landing Operation
Ⅳ In the midst of conflict - The rise and fall of English opera
01 The wind always blows at the top 02 Inside and outside the gorgeous curtain
V The Undying Flame of Show Business - The Music of the Ever-Beloved Masters
01 Career Peak 02 The Show Must Go On
Detailed image
Into the book
Why do people hold hands and go to the theater to watch a movie where the happy ending is obvious?
Perhaps it's because we believe that we will eventually meet the characters we can't help but love, smiling on screen at the end.
Such faith will lift us from the harsh and uneven terrain of reality and give us a moment of respite.
Handel's life is a movie whose ending is so eagerly awaited.
--- p.
7
Handel was both cautious and bold when putting his works on display.
For example, even in Rome, where women were religiously forbidden from singing on stage, they stubbornly cast soprano Margherita Durastanti.
Even if he is warned and rebuked by the Pope, he does not care.
--- p.
25
John Drummond, a leading British art critic, said:
“We don’t know how long ago the show started.”
If we rephrase this, it would be something like this.
“Was there ever a time when humans did not perform?”
--- p.
49~50
The status of opera in those days would be comparable to that of the Olympic opening ceremony today.
The Olympic opening ceremony is a national pride event, showcasing all kinds of technological prowess and unique artistry, pouring in capital. It's no surprise that the often-discussed topics include what stage effects were used, how extravagant the costumes were, and how many star singers were cast.
--- p.
102
Many people still believe that artists who are just trying to make money are insincere.
That's true even though it's not always true.
So, personally, I wish composers like Handel would get more of the spotlight.
I hope it becomes widely known that among the great composers who wrote many masterpieces, there are composers like Beethoven, but there are also composers like Handel who lived a wealthy life and got along well with people.
--- p.
114
Handel was the first composer to write works for the public rather than for the church or court.
Although I had affiliations, I always composed music with the intention of having more people listen to it.
He had a clear understanding of the public's tastes.
The melody was simple and easy, yet pleasant to listen to.
But some people think that complex and difficult music is more artistic, right?
Of course there is.
But I think that in any art form, the most difficult thing is to make an easy work into a great piece.
Beethoven, who greatly admired Handel, said this:
“We can learn from Handel how to achieve extraordinary results in extremely simple ways.”
By the way, it is said that Beethoven could only speak English in his entire life, except for the lyrics of [Messiah].
--- p.
372~373
This abundance is not limited to material things.
Handel's strong heart also enriched him.
A person who knows how to cherish and respect his own life, that is Handel.
He is a person who completely broke the stereotype that artists must be poor and suffer.
He was a great musician, but he was also a great human being. I used to have a prejudice that true art only blossomed in difficult lives, but I think Handel's music shattered that.
Especially when listening to the beautiful arias and choruses, I felt that the melodies respected the human being itself.
Perhaps it's because we believe that we will eventually meet the characters we can't help but love, smiling on screen at the end.
Such faith will lift us from the harsh and uneven terrain of reality and give us a moment of respite.
Handel's life is a movie whose ending is so eagerly awaited.
--- p.
7
Handel was both cautious and bold when putting his works on display.
For example, even in Rome, where women were religiously forbidden from singing on stage, they stubbornly cast soprano Margherita Durastanti.
Even if he is warned and rebuked by the Pope, he does not care.
--- p.
25
John Drummond, a leading British art critic, said:
“We don’t know how long ago the show started.”
If we rephrase this, it would be something like this.
“Was there ever a time when humans did not perform?”
--- p.
49~50
The status of opera in those days would be comparable to that of the Olympic opening ceremony today.
The Olympic opening ceremony is a national pride event, showcasing all kinds of technological prowess and unique artistry, pouring in capital. It's no surprise that the often-discussed topics include what stage effects were used, how extravagant the costumes were, and how many star singers were cast.
--- p.
102
Many people still believe that artists who are just trying to make money are insincere.
That's true even though it's not always true.
So, personally, I wish composers like Handel would get more of the spotlight.
I hope it becomes widely known that among the great composers who wrote many masterpieces, there are composers like Beethoven, but there are also composers like Handel who lived a wealthy life and got along well with people.
--- p.
114
Handel was the first composer to write works for the public rather than for the church or court.
Although I had affiliations, I always composed music with the intention of having more people listen to it.
He had a clear understanding of the public's tastes.
The melody was simple and easy, yet pleasant to listen to.
But some people think that complex and difficult music is more artistic, right?
Of course there is.
But I think that in any art form, the most difficult thing is to make an easy work into a great piece.
Beethoven, who greatly admired Handel, said this:
“We can learn from Handel how to achieve extraordinary results in extremely simple ways.”
By the way, it is said that Beethoven could only speak English in his entire life, except for the lyrics of [Messiah].
--- p.
372~373
This abundance is not limited to material things.
Handel's strong heart also enriched him.
A person who knows how to cherish and respect his own life, that is Handel.
He is a person who completely broke the stereotype that artists must be poor and suffer.
He was a great musician, but he was also a great human being. I used to have a prejudice that true art only blossomed in difficult lives, but I think Handel's music shattered that.
Especially when listening to the beautiful arias and choruses, I felt that the melodies respected the human being itself.
--- p.
374~376
374~376
Publisher's Review
Even music can be learned through books! The "Embarrassing Series" raises the quality of knowledge and lowers the barrier to learning.
If you've built your foundation with Mozart and Beethoven in Volumes 1 and 2, now's the time to return to the roots of classical music and truly enjoy it! Volumes 3 and 4, Bach and Handel, are also being published simultaneously!
Insert a QR code into the text, and with just the book and your smartphone, you can enjoy a personalized classical music lecture anywhere! No need to search for music separately!
Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, and Handel
"The Embarrassing Classical Music Class" is a series that was first released in late 2018 after extensive preparation by the publishing company Social Criticism and Professor Min Eun-ki, who shared the same concern that there was a lack of easy-to-pick-up introductory classical music books.
As it took a long time, the series was meticulously planned.
From the most basic of basics, Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Si, to the symphony, the flower of instrumental music, and from the first song of mankind to today's popular pop songs, it guides you step by step through time and space and genres to the best path to the world of classical music.
This is why both the first volume, Mozart, and the second volume, Beethoven, which followed, were quickly established as the "bible" for beginners of classical music, receiving favorable reviews such as "a rare, informative and useful introductory book" and "a book that balances musical works and background knowledge."
About a year later, 『The Awkward Classical Music Lessons』 returned with Volume 3 on Bach and Volume 4 on Handel.
Bach and Handel are a duo of masters who are often called the 'father and mother of music' and are a perfect fit for the term 'classic'.
If the previous Mozart and Beethoven chapters focused on building the foundational muscles for classical music, this journey, following in the footsteps of two musicians of the same age who lived just before that time, leads readers to fully immerse themselves in Baroque music, the root of Western music.
As a bonus, you can experience Europe, which was precariously strung across the Middle Ages, with all five senses, as if you were breathing through the life stories of these two people, which are more exciting than biographies and more vivid than history books.
The next five volumes will cover Chopin and Liszt, representative pianists of the Romantic era, the most brilliant period of classical music.
You can listen to music and take lectures anytime, anywhere with just a smartphone.
The friendly structure that was particularly well-received in 『The Story of Studying Art for the First Time in My Life』, which opened the 'Embarrassing Series' with unprecedented popularity among domestic planning knowledge and culture books, is continued in 『Embarrassing Classical Class』.
The text is written in a one-on-one conversation format that is easy to read, with images appearing when needed and QR codes appearing at appropriate places to connect to the music so you don't have to search for it separately.
Additionally, illustrator Kang Han's sensual drawings and carefully selected photographs fill each page, maximizing the viewing pleasure.
In particular, the newly published Volumes 3 and 4 of "Awkward Classics Class" contain more visual materials than ever before, with approximately 190 and 160 pages respectively, providing a richer reading experience.
Human nature, the comprehensive arts, and Handel
Handel lived a life as prosperous as the music he created.
Although born in a small town in Germany, he traveled around Europe's major cities from a young age, building his reputation and settling in London at an early age.
As can be seen from the anecdote that the king jumped up from his seat upon hearing 'Hallelujah', despite the handicap of being a foreigner, he was greatly loved by the king, nobles, and citizens of England, enjoyed the highest honor, and lived in abundance.
A rehearsal for the Royal Fireworks on the Thames Riverbank was so crowded that it caused what was considered London's first traffic jam.
Although relatively unknown, opera was the genre to which Handel was most passionate.
Opera is a comprehensive art form comparable to today's cinema, which cannot be created without capital and power.
The ever-present human instinct to dance, sing, and become someone else blossomed in Renaissance Italy, where it met cutting-edge technology and the finest art.
Fascinated by the possibilities of opera in his youth, Handel diligently created operas, displaying his talents in various fields, including entering politics and forming a company with partners.
This book weaves together Handel's music, including opera, and his life, and gently guides the reader by the hand so that they can truly "feel and love it together."
The path the author has paved to walk with the reader is like a wondrous walking trail in a forest that no one has ever walked before.
The author does not hide his pounding heart in the opening chapter of this book.
“I guess you could say it’s a subtle pleasure that comes from telling stories that people don’t know.
“This is especially true if it is the story of a hidden treasure.”
Handel, a German, became England's 'national composer'.
The author says that Handel was a musician who caught two birds with one stone: popular music that satisfied the audience and lofty artistic ideals.
As the text says, “beautiful arias, choruses, and life that respect people themselves,” readers of this book will be able to deeply feel his music, which shone like a flame reflecting on the Thames River.
If you've built your foundation with Mozart and Beethoven in Volumes 1 and 2, now's the time to return to the roots of classical music and truly enjoy it! Volumes 3 and 4, Bach and Handel, are also being published simultaneously!
Insert a QR code into the text, and with just the book and your smartphone, you can enjoy a personalized classical music lecture anywhere! No need to search for music separately!
Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, and Handel
"The Embarrassing Classical Music Class" is a series that was first released in late 2018 after extensive preparation by the publishing company Social Criticism and Professor Min Eun-ki, who shared the same concern that there was a lack of easy-to-pick-up introductory classical music books.
As it took a long time, the series was meticulously planned.
From the most basic of basics, Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Si, to the symphony, the flower of instrumental music, and from the first song of mankind to today's popular pop songs, it guides you step by step through time and space and genres to the best path to the world of classical music.
This is why both the first volume, Mozart, and the second volume, Beethoven, which followed, were quickly established as the "bible" for beginners of classical music, receiving favorable reviews such as "a rare, informative and useful introductory book" and "a book that balances musical works and background knowledge."
About a year later, 『The Awkward Classical Music Lessons』 returned with Volume 3 on Bach and Volume 4 on Handel.
Bach and Handel are a duo of masters who are often called the 'father and mother of music' and are a perfect fit for the term 'classic'.
If the previous Mozart and Beethoven chapters focused on building the foundational muscles for classical music, this journey, following in the footsteps of two musicians of the same age who lived just before that time, leads readers to fully immerse themselves in Baroque music, the root of Western music.
As a bonus, you can experience Europe, which was precariously strung across the Middle Ages, with all five senses, as if you were breathing through the life stories of these two people, which are more exciting than biographies and more vivid than history books.
The next five volumes will cover Chopin and Liszt, representative pianists of the Romantic era, the most brilliant period of classical music.
You can listen to music and take lectures anytime, anywhere with just a smartphone.
The friendly structure that was particularly well-received in 『The Story of Studying Art for the First Time in My Life』, which opened the 'Embarrassing Series' with unprecedented popularity among domestic planning knowledge and culture books, is continued in 『Embarrassing Classical Class』.
The text is written in a one-on-one conversation format that is easy to read, with images appearing when needed and QR codes appearing at appropriate places to connect to the music so you don't have to search for it separately.
Additionally, illustrator Kang Han's sensual drawings and carefully selected photographs fill each page, maximizing the viewing pleasure.
In particular, the newly published Volumes 3 and 4 of "Awkward Classics Class" contain more visual materials than ever before, with approximately 190 and 160 pages respectively, providing a richer reading experience.
Human nature, the comprehensive arts, and Handel
Handel lived a life as prosperous as the music he created.
Although born in a small town in Germany, he traveled around Europe's major cities from a young age, building his reputation and settling in London at an early age.
As can be seen from the anecdote that the king jumped up from his seat upon hearing 'Hallelujah', despite the handicap of being a foreigner, he was greatly loved by the king, nobles, and citizens of England, enjoyed the highest honor, and lived in abundance.
A rehearsal for the Royal Fireworks on the Thames Riverbank was so crowded that it caused what was considered London's first traffic jam.
Although relatively unknown, opera was the genre to which Handel was most passionate.
Opera is a comprehensive art form comparable to today's cinema, which cannot be created without capital and power.
The ever-present human instinct to dance, sing, and become someone else blossomed in Renaissance Italy, where it met cutting-edge technology and the finest art.
Fascinated by the possibilities of opera in his youth, Handel diligently created operas, displaying his talents in various fields, including entering politics and forming a company with partners.
This book weaves together Handel's music, including opera, and his life, and gently guides the reader by the hand so that they can truly "feel and love it together."
The path the author has paved to walk with the reader is like a wondrous walking trail in a forest that no one has ever walked before.
The author does not hide his pounding heart in the opening chapter of this book.
“I guess you could say it’s a subtle pleasure that comes from telling stories that people don’t know.
“This is especially true if it is the story of a hidden treasure.”
Handel, a German, became England's 'national composer'.
The author says that Handel was a musician who caught two birds with one stone: popular music that satisfied the audience and lofty artistic ideals.
As the text says, “beautiful arias, choruses, and life that respect people themselves,” readers of this book will be able to deeply feel his music, which shone like a flame reflecting on the Thames River.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: June 17, 2020
- Page count, weight, size: 384 pages | 760g | 153*224*30mm
- ISBN13: 9791162731161
- ISBN10: 1162731168
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