Getting the Most out of Mozart: The Instrumental Works (w/CD).(Book Review)

Getting the Most Out of Mozart: The Instrumental Works (w/CD), by David Hurwitz. Amadeus Press/Limelight Editions c/o Hal Leonard Corp., Inc. (7777 W., Bluemound Rd., P.O. Box 13819, Milwaukee, WI 53213), 2005. 185 pp. $19.95.

The ability to enjoy hearing great classical music can be greatly enhanced if one has a little background information about the basic elements of music. In Getting the Most Out of Mozart--The Instrumental Works, David Hurwitz takes a flesh approach to helping the classical music novice understand these basic elements. The writing style is fresh, without complex technical terms, and Hurwitz really does help the reader understand "what makes Mozart sound like Mozart." But the good news is that practically anyone will benefit from reading this book because the material is presented in a way that will be equally appealing to the seasoned listener. The book is divided into four sections--"Mozart's Musical Identity and Style," "Chamber Music," "Orchestral Music" and "Concertos"--Hurwitz even has included a CD of recordings of many of the works he addresses. The inclusion of the CD is a brilliant stroke because it allows the novice, who may not have recordings of many of the works discussed in the book, to listen repeatedly and ...