Listening to Reason

More about the book

The book explores the significant influence of music on European modernity from the late 1700s to the early 1900s, highlighting how musical works and culture shaped societal debates about identity and power. Michael Steinberg examines a wide range of composers, from Mozart to Mahler, and addresses both sacred and secular music, including opera and symphonic pieces. This work illustrates how music not only mirrored contemporary issues but also actively critiqued and engaged with the prevailing social and political structures of the time.