Biographers in Conversation

Andrew Ford's "The Shortest History of Music"

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In this episode of Biographers in Conversation, the multi-award-winning broadcaster, composer and author Andrew Ford chats with Dr Gabriella Kelly-Davies about his choices while crafting, The Shortest History of Music. A lively, authoritative tour through 4,000 years of music, this book explores music’s role in human society.

 

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

  • Andrew Ford explains how he balanced brevity and intellectual depth while crafting a 200-page book spanning 4,000 years of musical history
  • How he synthesised a multiplicity of musical traditions and cultures into a seamless narrative
  • How he balanced historical accuracy with masterful storytelling
  • Why he examined music from multiple angles: Its fundamental impulses; the impact of notation; music as a profession and commodity; the concept of modernism and the revolutionary effects of recording technology
  • How he skilfully weaved history, culture and personal insight into a tapestry that celebrates music in all its forms.
    • ...more
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    Biographers in ConversationBy Gabriella
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