Among its many virtues, Michael Church's The Other Classical Musics can handily serve as a textbook for college and university courses that survey the musical Great Traditions of Eurasia and North Africa, music from the Silk Road lands, and kindred formulations of inter-regional and cross-cultural music studies. The writing, by leading scholars and Church himself, is rigorously ... Read moreevidence-based, yet readily accessible to non-specialist readers.
Theodore Levin, Arthur R. Virgin Professor of Music, Dartmouth College [A] valuable, accessible, and highly recommended book. Attractively illustrated, it constitutes a manageable and useful compendium suitable for a variety of reference and educational purposes while providing an intriguing outline for meaningful conceptual change. ANALYTICAL APPROACHES TO WORLD MUSIC This book is a clearly written, attractively illustrated and inspirational guide. LITERARY REVIEW Many [...] illuminating essays in this thought-provoking book CLASSICAL MUSIC MAGAZINE Highly recommended: a great spirit of adventure is enshrined within. CLASSICAL SOURCE There is a treasure trove of under-appreciated music out there; this book will convince many to explore it. And in fewer than thirty pages it offers as good a summary of the Western canon as can be found anywhere. THE ECONOMIST [A] fascinating study of 'classical' music from around the globe . . .Beautifully produced and laden with colour images. 4 Stars. BBC MUSIC Whether discussing gamelan or gagaku, these fifteen essays on music from around the world (gorgeously illustrated with colour photographs and images) never forget that they are telling human stories, rooting unfamiliar sounds, words and ideas in narratives in which we can all find a foothold. THE SPECTATOR [Michael] Church has orchestrated a truly invaluable volume. Anyone willing to open mind and ears to 'humanity's most sophisticated communal achievements in musical creation' will find a sumptuous treasure-house in this encyclopaedic survey.THE INDEPENDENT Fascinating. This book is vitally important in broadening our understanding of the term 'classical music'. THE SCOTSMAN Show Less