Terpander; Or, Music and the Future

Published in 1927, 'Terpander; Or, Music and the Future' by Edward J. Dent is a critical examination of the evolution of Western music from antiquity to the modern era. The book addresses the anxieties surrounding new music and explores how changes in melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre affect listener responses. Dent argues for music's autonomy beyond literary interpretations and critiques the commercialization of music while encouraging a rediscovery of sound's primary pleasures. The work reflects on the historical context of music and its continual renewal despite societal fears of decline.