
Musical Myths and Facts (Vol. 1&2) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Complete EditionBy Carl EngelLength18h 9m
About this audiobook
Musical Myths and Facts (Vol. 1&2) gathers Carl Engel's searching essays on musical history, instruments, national styles, disputed origins, and the attractive legends that so often harden into "facts." Written in a lucid Victorian prose, the work blends antiquarian learning with comparative observation, testing anecdote against documentary, linguistic, and organological evidence. It belongs to the formative age of modern musicology, when folklore, ethnography, and historical criticism were beginning to reshape the study of music beyond biography and taste. Engel (1818–1882), a German-born scholar long active in Britain, was among the nineteenth century's most informed writers on musical instruments and the music of diverse peoples. His work with collections, including what became the South Kensington Museum's instrument holdings, and his broader interest in non-European and vernacular traditions gave him both the materials and the motive to challenge inherited errors. His immigrant perspective also sharpened his sensitivity to how nations mythologize sound. For readers interested in music history, cultural memory, or the prehistory of ethnomusicology, these volumes remain richly rewarding. Engel's judgments may bear the marks of his century, but his insistence on evidence, breadth, and skepticism makes the book a stimulating companion for anyone wishing to hear music's past more critically.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreOther
Length18 hrs 9 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 3, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1On the Conservation of Force (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Volume 1
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6PREFACE.
7A MUSICAL LIBRARY.
8ELSASS-LOTHRINGEN.
9MUSIC AND ETHNOLOGY.
10COLLECTIONS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
11MUSICAL MYTHS AND FOLK-LORE.
12THE STUDIES OF OUR GREAT COMPOSERS.
13SUPERSTITIONS CONCERNING BELLS.
14CURIOSITIES IN MUSICAL LITERATURE.
15THE ENGLISH INSTRUMENTALISTS.
16MUSICAL FAIRIES AND THEIR KINSFOLK.
17SACRED SONGS OF CHRISTIAN SECTS.
18Volume 2
19MATTHESON ON HANDEL.
20DIABOLIC MUSIC.
21ROYAL MUSICIANS.
22COMPOSERS AND PRACTICAL MEN.
23MUSIC AND MEDICINE.
24POPULAR STORIES WITH MUSICAL TRADITIONS.
25DRAMATIC MUSIC OF UNCIVILIZED RACES.
26A SHORT SURVEY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
27CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC.
28THE MUSICAL SCALES IN USE AT THE PRESENT DAY.
29Analysis
30Reflection
31Memorable Quotes