Joseph Kerman

Joseph Kerman (1924-2014) was an influential American musicologist and critic who served as a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. His written works and criticism helped shape the field of musicology in the latter half of the 20th century. Kerman's most notable book "Opera as Drama" (1956) established him as a leading voice in music criticism, challenging prevailing views about opera analysis. His 1985 book "Contemplating Music: Challenges to Musicology" (published in the UK as "Musicology") provided a critical examination of the field and became a cornerstone text. As a music critic for The Hudson Review and The New York Review of Books, Kerman was known for his sharp analytical mind and occasionally controversial viewpoints. His academic work focused heavily on Beethoven, particularly the composer's string quartets, as well as English madrigals and Elizabethan music. Kerman's approach to musicology emphasized cultural and historical context rather than purely formal analysis, helping to broaden the scope of music scholarship. His influence continues through his many published works and the generations of musicologists he mentored during his long academic career.

Readers consistently cite Kerman's clear writing style and ability to analyze complex musical concepts for both academic and general audiences. His books receive particular praise for integrating cultural context with technical musical analysis. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of difficult musical concepts - Balance of scholarly depth with accessibility - Strong historical context and connections - Thorough research and citations - Engaging critical perspectives on established views What readers disliked: - Dense academic language in some sections - Assumed knowledge of musical terminology - Limited appeal outside academic circles - Some dated cultural references and attitudes Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: "Opera as Drama" - 4.1/5 (87 ratings) "Contemplating Music" - 4.0/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: "Listen" - 4.3/5 (28 reviews) "Write All These Down" - 4.4/5 (6 reviews) One music student noted: "Kerman explains complex theoretical ideas without losing sight of music's emotional impact." A professor wrote: "His analysis challenges conventional wisdom while remaining grounded in evidence."

Opera as Drama (1956) Examines how music serves dramatic purposes in opera, analyzing works by Mozart, Wagner, Verdi, and others through both musical and dramatic perspectives.

The Beethoven Quartets (1967) A detailed analysis of Beethoven's complete string quartets, examining their structure, composition, and historical context.

Listen (1972) An introductory textbook for music appreciation covering the basics of musical elements, form, and style across different historical periods.

The Art of Fugue: Bach Fugues for Keyboard, 1715-1750 (1983) Studies Bach's major keyboard fugues chronologically, analyzing their compositional techniques and development.

Contemplating Music: Challenges to Musicology (1985) Critiques the state of musicology in the late 20th century and proposes new directions for the field.

Write All These Down: Essays on Music (1994) Collection of essays covering various musical topics from Mozart to modernism, including performance practice and criticism.

Concerto Conversations (1999) Explores the history and development of the concerto form through analysis of specific works from the Baroque era to the 20th century.

The Art of Piano Playing (2004) Examines piano performance practices and interpretation across different historical periods and styles.

Charles Rosen wrote extensively about classical music analysis and performance practice. His work "The Classical Style" examines Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven with technical depth comparable to Kerman's analytical approach.

Leonard B. Meyer developed theories about musical meaning and emotion in works like "Emotion and Meaning in Music." His focus on how musical structures create expectations aligns with Kerman's interest in music's communicative power.

Donald Francis Tovey produced detailed musical analyses through his Essays in Musical Analysis series. His combination of historical context with technical examination mirrors Kerman's methodology.

Richard Taruskin writes about music historiography and criticism with an emphasis on questioning received wisdom. His work challenges traditional narratives in classical music scholarship similar to Kerman's critiques.

Leo Treitler explores how musical meaning is constructed through cultural and historical frameworks. His writings examine the intersection of music analysis and cultural context that Kerman emphasized in his work.