The ABC of Classical Music - The Great Composers and Their Greatest Works

Naxos of America : Cherry Hill, N.J., 2002. Paperback. Fine/Fine. This unpretentious text by Keith Anderson offers an introduction to the lives and works of many composers, together with recommended recordings of their works. This book is an exceptionally well written and succinct yet detailed guide to the great composers and classical music repertoire. Anderson includes a useful 59-page glossary of musical terms and an extensive listing of classical pieces used in films. The odd thing about the information about the composers is that they do not form an A-to-Z at all. Rather, they are arranged chronologically, from 1,000-year-old Gregorian chant to the contemporary composer Philip Glass. Between these two points is the early music of Palestrina and Byrd; the Baroque glories of Vivaldi and Bach; the 19th-century Romantic masters, from Beethoven to Tchaikovsky; and such 20th-century greats as Rachmaninov and Stravinsky. Opera, song, and chamber music are also represented. The book offers a good introduction to some of the most famous and melodic music ever composed and will be very useful to newcomers to the potentially confusing world of classical music. For anyone seeking a lot of information in a little space, this will be a welcome acquisition. The author of the book is Keith Anderson familiar to Naxos and Marco Polo fans as the writer of booklet notes for many of their releases particularly for Naxos. Anderson has served as chief editor for Naxos and Marco Polo and associated labels of HNH International since the foundation of the Company. The table of contents contains the following major headings: The Great Composers and Their Greatest Works; Glossary of Musical Terms; Classical Music Used in Films; List of Illustrations; About the Author. The book is approximately 4 7/8 X 5 5/8 inches in size and contains 269 pages including many illustrations of the composers. Another copy of the book is currently offered on the Internet at Harpers Ferry Books for $12.99.