Classical Music Month

Classical Music Month is observed in September. It was established in 1994 by President Bill Clinton's proclamation. The month aims to celebrate the study and beauty of classical music. Here's a list of books to get you started.

Updated August 22, 2025
F
Fond du Lac Public Library
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Year of wonder : classical music to enjoy day by day
Burton-Hill, Clemency
Paper Book
"Year of Wonder is an absolute treat--the most enlightening way to be guided through the year." -- Eddie Redmayne A unique celebration of classical music that showcases one inspirational piece each day of the year, written by an award-winning violinist and BBC Radio personality ...
Beethoven : anguish and triumph : a biography
Swafford, Jan.
Paper Book
Jan Swafford's biographies of Charles Ives and Johannes Brahms have established him as a revered music historian, capable of bringing his subjects vibrantly to life. His magnificent new biography of Ludwig van Beethoven peels away layers of legend to get to the living, breathing human being who...
Mozart's starling
Haupt, Lyanda Lynn
Paper Book
On May 27th, 1784, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart met a flirtatious little starling in a Viennese shop who sang an improvised version of the theme from his Piano Concerto no. 17 in G major. Sensing a kindred spirit in the plucky young bird, Mozart bought him and took him home to be a family pet. For...
The great composers : the lives and music of the great classical composers
Nicholas, Jeremy.
Paper Book
From the romantic agonies of Hector Berlioz to the lonely labors of Anton Bruckner; from the cosmopolitan triumphs of George Frideric Handel to the politically fraught career of Dmitri Shostakovich, the lives of the great composers are as varied and multifaceted...
Dangerous melodies : classical music in America from the Great War through the Cold War
Rosenberg, Jonathan
Paper Book
Dangerous Melodies vividly evokes a time when classical music stood at the center of twentieth-century American life, occupying a prominent place in the nation's culture and politics. The work of renowned conductors, instrumentalists, and singers-and the activities of orchestras and opera...
The classical music book
Paper Book
Learn about the world's greatest classical compositions and musical traditions in The Classical Music Book. Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Classic Music in this overview...
The NPR listener's encyclopedia of classical music
Libbey, Theodore
Paper Book
A complete education in classical music, written with verve and wit. No music lover can pick up this one-volume compendium without becoming a more knowledgeable, discerning listener. * The sonata form revealed, and why it's been deeply satisfying for three centuries. * What to listen for...
Language of the spirit : an introduction to classical music
Swafford, Jan
Paper Book
A preeminent composer, music scholar, and biographer presents an engaging and accessible introduction to classical music For many of us, classical music is something serious -- something we study in school, something played by cultivated musicians at fancy gatherings. In...
Chopin's piano : in search of the instrument that transformed music
Kildea, Paul Francis
Paper Book
In November 1838, Frédéric Chopin, George Sand, and her two children sailed to Majorca to escape the Parisian winter. They settled in an abandoned monastery at Valldemossa in the mountains above Palma where Chopin finished what would eventually be recognized as one of the great and revolutionary...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.