Listening to Western Music

Listening to Western Music, 8th Edition, is a textbook designed to cultivate student listening skills and foster a lifelong appreciation of music. Craig Wright presents musical selections to help readers engage attentively with music rather than passively hearing it.

The volume follows a chronological organization across historical eras. Discussions examine each musical work in terms of both its internal formal construction and its broader social and cultural context.

Throughout the text, Wright compares classical repertoire with popular music. The book uses examples from popular artists to illustrate foundational musical concepts, connecting core principles to familiar styles.