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
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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 ...
The way of Bach : three years with the man, the music, and the piano
Moller, Dan
Paper Book
A tale of passion and obsession from a philosophy professor who teaches himself to play Bach on the piano. Dan Moller grew up listening to heavy metal in the Boston suburbs. But something changed when he dug out his mother's record of The Art of the Fugue, inexplicably...
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...
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...
Declassified : a low-key guide to the high-strung world of classical music
Warsaw-Fan Rauch, Arianna
Paper Book
"A refreshingly fun guide" that reads "as if you're a fly on the wall in conservatory auditions, cutthroat competitions and the obsessive practice routines of professional musicians." (The New York Times) Arianna Warsaw-Fan Rauch's life-long fascination with classical...
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...
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...

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