About the Author

Charles Rosen is an internationally renowned writer and pianist. His numerous books include Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas, published by Yale University Press.

Reviews

"'What is astonishing, given the rigour of the analysis and the apparent technicality of the approach, is how moving the book is.' (Simon Callow, The Guardian) 'These lectures, bristling with musical examples and detailed analysis, tackle the tricky question of how music expresses emotion.' (Adam Lively, The Sunday Times) 'the number of composers about whom he has illuminating things to say, even if only in passing, is remarkable.' (Michael Tanner, Literary Review) 'Rosen continuously reveals and explains the fantastic, largely unglimpsed, subtlety of music's expressive vocabulary... This book could be a revelation even to the musically illiterate.' (Jeremy Siepmann, BBC Music Magazine) 'This book is definitely worth reading, and taking to heart.' (Brian Morton, The Tablet) 'Rosen offers a compelling examination of the 'power' that the great composers have exerted on our sensibilities.' (New Statesman)"