Interactive series of digital guides to the greatest works of classical music launched.

London, United Kingdom – 3rd July, 2014

Erudition, in partnership with Harmonia Mundi, is pleased to announce the launch of Masterpieces of Music, an enhanced, interactive eBook series featuring comprehensive guides to the greatest classical works. The series is aimed at listeners of all levels of knowledge, whether they are just beginning to explore classical music or have loved it all their lives.

Each guide uncovers the full story behind the work and places it in its historical and musical context, taking advantage of the non-linear nature of the medium to explore related topics suggested by the specific piece. Extensive music examples – complete with audio – are used to illustrate a descriptive breakdown of the composer’s creative process in a movement-by-movement walk-through.

Masterpieces of Music eBooks combine the latest scholarship with a range of innovative features designed to bring the music to life and increase enjoyment whatever the level of knowledge. Together, they will build into an essential collection for the music-lover, student or teacher.

The first publication in the series features Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ Symphony, one of the key works of Western music. Author Matthew Rye exploits his long experience as a music writer and critic to tell the detailed story behind this epoch-making work and its composer’s love-hate relationship with Napoleon. In a see-and-hear walk-through, he guides the reader through every turn in the music with the aid of interactive examples, including a bar-by-bar exploration of the marvel that is Beethoven’s first-movement development section.

In addition to being available via the Amazon and the Apple iBookstore, Masterpieces of Music eBooks can also be purchased directly from the publisher’s website (www.eruditions.co.uk). By purchasing directly, customers will have access to the publications in a range of formats including a web application for viewing publications on a range of devices via a web browser. Downloadable versions of the publications are also available in Kindle and iBooks formats giving readers a wide range of reading options rather than being tied to a specific platform or device.

Following today’s launch of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’, further eBooks in the series will be released, including Bach’s B minor Mass, Schumann’s Dichterliebe and Brahms’s Piano Concerto no.1.

Masterpieces of Music – Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’ is now available to buy directly on the Erudition website, where it can be read on computer/tablet via the web browser and downloaded for offline reading as iBooks or Kindle formats.

The eBook is also available to buy from other retailers:

Click here to purchase Beethoven’s Symphony No.3 ‘Eroica’ from Apple iBookstore

Click here to purchase Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’ from Amazon.com