NOTE: CHANGES IN ESSAYS AVAILABILITY
A number of essays by David Whitwell previously listed on this site have now been converted into new soft-cover books available on Amazon Books or through www.whitwellbooks.com
For the reader’s convenience we have listed here the names of the new books together with the individual essays they contain with their original essay numbers previously used on this essay site.
ESSAYS ON EARLY MUSIC
Ancient Views on Music and Religion
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [5] Ancient Views on Music and Religion
- [16] Ancient Views on Music and Prophesy
- Ancient Hebrew Views on Music and Religion
- [6] Ancient Views on Music and Religion among the Romans and Early Christians
- [15] Ancient Views on Music in Heaven
- [87] St. Augustine’s Views on Music
- [7] Ancient Views on Roman Church Music during the Dark Ages
- [8] Ancient Views on Roman Church Music during the Pre-Renaissance
- [91] St. Thomas Aquinas’ Views on Music
- [9] Ancient Views on Roman Church Music during the 14th Century
- [10] Ancient Views on Roman Church Music during the 15th Century
- [11] Ancient Views on Music during the 16th Century
- [12] Martin Luther on Music
- [13] Praetorius on 16th Century Performance Practice
- [14] Ancient Views on Church Music in the Baroque
Ancient Views on the Natural World
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [3] The Ancient Voice of Pythagoras
- [2] On the Music of the Spheres, 'the Sacred Madness'
- [33] Early Views on Music Therapy
- [34] 'to soothe a savage breast'
- [31] Ancient Views on Music and Movement
- [32] Ancient Views on Music and Oratory
- [36] Ancient Voices Wonder: Are Musicians Born or Made?
- [37] Ancient Voices Wonder: Is Music Genetic?
- [35] Ancient Views on Geography and Music
- [62] Weird Science
Early Views on Music and Ethics
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [38] On Music and Character Formation
- [39] On Music and Manners
- [40] On the Character of the Performer
- [41] Women not Allowed
- [42] Ancient Artists and the Public
- [43] Renaissance Artists and the Public
- [44] Baroque Artists and the Public
- [45] 19th Century Artists and the Public
- [54] Early Views on Criticism
Ancient Views on What is Music?
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [17] Ancient Voices ask: What is Music?
- [68] On Ancient Gods of Music
- [69] On Ancient Muses and Myths
- [29] On Divine Inspiration
- [19] Is Music Math?
- [18] Is Music Theory or Performance?
- [21] Early Voices Argue: Reason versus Experience
- [25] Early Voices Struggle to Explain the Emotions
- [1] Animals and Music
- [22] Is Man Ruled by Reason or Emotion?
- [23] Some Early Voices Intuit the Bicameral Mind
- [24] The Secret Agenda: Right-Hand Preference
- [26] Music is the Ruler of the Passions of the Soul
- [27] On the Doctrine of the Affections
- [20] Music is Truth
- [30] Music as the Language of Truth
- [28] The End of Music: Catharsis
Early Thoughts on Performance Practice
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [70] What Was Ancient Greek Music Like?
- [71] On the Ancient Greek Modes
- [75] On the Social Standing of Music in Ancient Societies
- [81] Music Viewed by Early Church Philosophers
- [88] Boethius
- [89] Cassiodorus
- [90] Late Medieval Music Treatises
- [52] Early Reflections on Repertoire
- [63] Early Reflections on Acoustics and the Perception of Music
- [64] Early Experience with the ‘Pyramid Principle’
- [65] Early Reflections on Tempo
- [66] Early Reflections on Instruments and Ensembles
- [67] Early Views on Percussion
- [61] Early Views on Memorization
Contemporary Descriptions of Early Musicians
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [48] On Early Performers
- [49] On Early Singers
- [50] On the Ancient Rhapsodist
- [51] Women Performers of the Ancient World
- [53] On Ancient Conductors
- [74] On the Aulos
- [80] On the Ancient Trumpet
- [97] On the Medieval Trumpet
- [82] On the Jongleur
- [83] On the Minstrel
- [92] On the Troubadours
- [93] Music of the French Romances
- [94] On the Minnesingers
- [95] On the Goliards
Music Performance in Ancient Societies
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [77] On Secular Music in Ancient Societies
- [78] On Secular Festivals in Ancient Greece and Rome
- [46] On Ancient Concert Halls
- [47] On Memories of Ancient Concerts
- [72] On the Ancient Greek Chorus
- [73] On the Ancient Roman Chorus
- [76] On Music in Ancient Courts
- [60] Theater Music in the Ancient World
- [55] On Music Competition in the Ancient World
- [56] Entertainment Music in the Ancient World
- [57] Banquet Music in the Ancient World
- [58] Wedding Music in the Ancient World
- [59] Funeral Music in the Ancient World
- [79] Military Music in the Ancient World
- [96] Medieval Military Music
- [84] Music of the Medieval Courts
- [85] Medieval Civic Music
- [86] On the Medieval Chorus
Renaissance Men on Music
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [99] Guillaume de Machaut on Music
- [100] Francesco Petrarch on Music
- [101] Giovanni Boccaccio on Music
- [102] Geoffrey Chaucer on Music
- [104] Leonardo da Vinci on Music
- [108] Baldassare Castiglione on Music
- [110] Michaelangelo on Art and Music
- [113] Girolamo Cardano on Music
- [117] Erasmus on Music
- [111] The Academies
Essays on Renaissance Philosophies of Music
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [98] On Music and Society in the 14th Century
- [109] On the “Well-Rounded Man”
- [127] In Praise of Women
- [103] On Music and Society in the 15th Century:
- [105] Johannes Tinctorius on Music
- [115] On Music and Society in the 16th Century - The Opposition by the Church
- [107] Polyphony, the Child of Mathematics, is left on the Steps of the Church
- [106] On Music and Society in the 16th Century: The Spread of Italian Humanism
- [116] Erasmus on Humanism
- [112] On Music and Society in the 16th Century: The Growing Irrelevance of the Universities
- [128] Contemporary Reflections on the Aesthetic Values of Music
- [129] Contemporary Descriptions on Performance Practice
- [130] Contemporary Descriptions of Improvisation
Philosophy and Performance Practice of Music during the Italian Baroque
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [143] On Defining the Italian Baroque
- [144] Thoughts on the Beginning of Italian Opera
- [145] On Court Music of the Italian Baroque
- [146] On Civic and Military Music of the Italian Baroque
- [147] On Church Music of the Italian Baroque
- [148] Italian View on Baroque Performance Practice
- [149] Kircher on Music
- [150] Thoughts of Music of the Spanish Baroque
Philosophy and Performance Practice of Music during the German Baroque
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [151] Thoughts on the Musical Scene in Baroque Germany
- [152] On Emotion in Music in the German Baroque
- [153] On Court Music in the German Baroque
- [154] On the Hautboisten
- [155] On Civic Music of the German Baroque
- [156] On Instruments in Church Music of Baroque Germany
- [157] On the Golden Age of the Trumpet in Germany
- [158] On the Influence of Turkish Music
- [159] On German Military Music of the Baroque
- [160] A few Comments on German Performance Practice
- [161] Mattheson on the Nature of Music
- [162] Mattheson on Emotion in Music
- [163] Mattheson on the Composition of Good Melody
- [164] Mattheson on Performance
- [165] Leibniz on Music
Philosophy and Performance Practice of Music during the French Baroque
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [166] On Court Music in the French Baroque
- [167] On French Military Music of the Baroque
- [168] On Some Views of French Baroque Musicians
- [169] Mersenne on the Nature of Music
- [170] Mersenne on Performance
- [171] French Philosophers on Music
- [172] French Philosophers on the Character of French Musicians
- [173] French Philosophers on Opera
- [174] Descartes on Music
- [175] The French Theater on Music
- [176] Music in French Fiction
- [177] Music in French Non-Fiction
- [178] Voltaire on Music
- [179] Voltaire on Opera
Philosophy and Performance Practice of Music during Jacobean England
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [180] Music at the Jacobean Court
- [181] Music in the Masque
- [182] Jacobean Church Music
- [183] Civic Music in the English Baroque
- [184] Music in Jacobean Society
- [185] Entertainment Music in Baroque England
- [186] Military Music of the English Baroque
- [187] Views by English Musicians of the Baroque
- [188] Contemporary Views on Performance Practice
- [189] North on Music
- [190] Jacobean Philosophers on Music
- [191] Bacon on Music
- [192] Music in Jacobean Poetry
- [193] Milton on Music
- [194] Music in the Jacobean Theater
- [195] Music in English Prose
Philosophy and Performance Practice of Music during the English Restoration
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- [196] Music in the Restoration Court
- [197] Music in the Restoration Church
- [198] Isaac Newton on Music
- [199] Restoration Philosophers on Music
- [200] Music in the Restoration Theater
- [201] Dryden on Music
- [202] Music in Restoration Poetry
- [203] Music and English Manners
- [204] Pepys on Music
- [205] Restoration Journals on Music
- [206] English Views on Foreign Opera
- [207] Dryden on Opera
- [208] Restoration Journals on Opera
Concerning Education
The following essays are now to be found in the book, David Whitwell, Philosophic Foundations of Education
(Austin: Whitwellpublishing, 2011) and can be ordered on the website www.whitwellbooks.com or on
Amazon.
- [214] Why the Church closed the Schools
- [218] Early Renaissance Views on Education in General
- [221] Views on Education in General in 16th Century Italy
- [223] Montaigne on Education
- [225] Vives on Education
- [226] Erasmus on Education
- [227] Views on Education in General in 16th Century Germany
- [231] Views on Education in General in 16th Century England
- [236] Views on Education in General in Baroque France
- [239] Jacobean Philosophers on Education in General
- [241] Restoration Philosophers on Education in General
The following essays are now to be found in the book, David Whitwell, Foundations of Music Education
(Austin: Whitwellpublishing, 2011) and can be ordered on the website www.whitwellbooks.com
or on Amazon.
- [209] Music Education before Plato
- [210] Plato on Music Education
- [211] Aristotle on Music Education
- [212] Greek Views on Music Education after Aristotle
- [213] Music Education in Ancient Rome
- [215] How the Church Reinvented Music Education
- [216] Music Education in the Dark Ages
- [217] Music Education in the Pre-Renaissance
- [219] Music Education in the 14th Century
- [220] Music Education in the 15th Century
- [222] Music Education in 16th Century Italy
- [224] Music Education in 16th Century France
- [228] Views on Music Education in 16th Century Germany
- [229] Music Education Treatises of 16th Century Germany
- [230] Martin Luther on Music Education
- [232] Music Education in 16th Century England
- [233] On Music Education in Baroque Italy
- [234] On the Philosophical Roots of German Music Education
- [235] The Music Education Scene in Baroque Germany
- [237] On the Philosophical Roots of French Music Education
- [238] The Music Education Scene in Baroque France
- [240] The Music Education Scene in Jacobean England
- [242] On Music Education in Restoration England
- [243] Schumann on Music Education
- [245] Chopin on Music Education
- [246] Mendelssohn on Music Education
- [247] Liszt on Music Education
- [248] Berlioz on Music Education
- [249] Wagner on Music Education
Music Education of the Future
The following essays are now to be found in the book, David Whitwell, Music Education of the Future
(Austin] Whitwellpublishing, 2011) and can be ordered on the website www.whitwellbooks.com or on
Amazon.
- [252] On the Roots of Music Education
- [253] Some Thoughts on the Perception of Music
- [254] Purpose and Meaning in Music Education
- [255] Music Education of the Future Must be Experiential and not Conceptual
- [256] The Music Education of the Future must Educate ALL Children
- [257] The Music Education of the Future must Educate the REAL Child
- [258] Music Education of the Future] Two Paramount New Purposes
ESSAYS ON PERFORMANCE
The essays by David Whitwell previously listed here have now been converted into new soft-cover books available on Amazon Books or through www.whitwellbooks.com.
For the reader’s convenience we have listed here the names of the new books together with the individual essays they contain.
Essays on the Modern Wind Band
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- The Roots of the Wind Band (1992)
- Views of Distinguished Composers (1967)
- On the State of the Profession (1977)
- On Forgotten Band Repertoire (2010)
- On our Fatal Error in Commissioning (2010)
- Forgotten Wind Music (1966)
- Band Music from a Historical Perspective (1967)
- Vaclav Nelhybel (2012)
- Karel Husa (2012)
- Frank Erickson (2012)
- Ernst Krenek (2012)
- James Neilson on the Ethical Responsibilities of the Band Director (1974)
- James Neilson on The Changing Scene (1974)
- The CBDNA in the Future (1975)
- CBDNA and the Bicentennial (1976)
- On the Direction of WASBE (1999)
- On the Future of WASBE (2000)
- International Gesellschaft zur Erforschung und Förderung der Blasmusik (IGEB)
- Recommendations for the ABA (1993)
- On University Education being based on a Sixth-Century Philosophy (2008)
- The Forgotten Man in the Music Department (2008)
- Where is the Value in Conducting Clinics? (2009)
- Some Band Conductors Remembered (2007)
- Observing the Great Ones (2007)
- On University Life (2010)
- On Adjudicating Music Competition (2008)
- A Proposal for a New Festival Format (1995)
- A Letter to California High School Band Directors (1991)
- On Honor Bands and Orchestras (2010)
- Frederick Fennell as I knew him (2012)
Essays on Performance Practice
Available on Amazon Books
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
Search under the author's name "David Whitwell"
- On the Definition of Aesthetics in Music (2009)
- On the Classification of the Musical Experience (2009)
- On the Nature of the Present Tense in Music (2009)
- What Shall we do with Marches? (2011)
- Why do some Conductors feel they must TALK to the Audience? (2011)
- Whitwell on Seating-plan Acoustics (1995)
- On the Difficulty of Staying Awake (2010)
- On the Gustav Holst, Suite in E-flat (2011)
- On the Gustav Holst, Suite in F (2011)
- On the Paul Hindemith. Symphony for Band (1975)
- On the Darius Milhaud, Suite Français (2011)
- On the Richard Wagner, Trauermusik (2012)
- On the other Wagner Band Works (2011)
- On the Beethoven, Siegessinfonie (1977)
- On the Anton Reicha, Symphony for Band (1973)
- On the Hector Berlioz, Symphony for Band (1975)
- Nineteenth-Century Italian Sinfonias (2011)
- Special Memorial Compositions for Band (2011)
- Special Variation Collections for Band (2011)
- On the Five Whitwell Symphonies (2011)
- On Performance Practice (2012)
- Classical Period Performance Idioms (2012)
- Score Discussions of Mozart, K. 361 and K. 388 (2012)