Introduction to a Philosophy of Music

Peter Kivy is Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers University, New Jersey. He is the author of New Essays on Musical Understanding, also published by Oxford University Press (2001).

• Preface ; 1. Philosophy of... ; 2. A Little History ; 3. Emotions in the Music ; 4. A Little More History ; 5. Formalism ; 6. Enhanced Formalism ; 7. The Emotions in You ; 8. Foes of Formalism ; 9. First the Words: Then the Music ; 10. Words without Songs ; 11. The Work ; 12. And the Performace Thereof ; 13. Why Should you Listen? ; Readings and References, Index

Though not a textbook, Kivy's book neatly covers the history of musical aesthetics from Plato onwards, and thus could easily be used in philosophy of music classes.