Product Description
The ultimate guide to classical composers and their music-for both the novice and the experienced listener
Music, according to Aaron Copland, can thrive only if there are “gifted listeners.” But today’s listeners must choose between classical and rock, opera and rap, and the choices can seem overwhelming at times. In The Essential Canon of Classical Music, David Dubal comes to the aid of the struggling listener and provides a cultural-literacy handboo… More >>
The Essential Canon of Classical Music
Tags: aaron copland, Canon, Classical, classical composers, classical music, david dubal, Essential, listener, Listener's, literacy, Music, novice, rock opera, ultimate guide
#1 by Minghui Kuang on April 22, 2010 - 9:53 pm
In general I find this to be a very good book. The writing is lucid, to the point, and free of prejudice. However, in some instances where the facts regarding a composer’s life is unclear, Dubal presents the version that he believes is true as fact. For example, Dubal says that Tchaikovsky died of cholera after drinking unboiled water. In at least one other instance (the liner notes to a Tchaikovsky CD I own but forgot which one) the author claims that Tchaikovsky was forced to consume poison after the authorities found that he was a homosexual. And to call Schumann an “important” symphonist is laughable. Everyone knows as great as Schumann is at writing for the piano, he was equally inept at writing for the orchestra.
Another problem I have is Dubal’s selection of recommended recordings. He recommends anything and everything that Solti recorded. I know Solti is a great conductor but come on. There are some absolute classics of the repertoire that he leaves out such as C. Kleiber’s recordings of Beethoven’s 5th and Brahms 4th.
Rating: 4 / 5
#2 by Wayne Leigh on April 22, 2010 - 9:53 pm
Overall this collection of composers’ biographies have much to offer to a music student who is daunted by those found in the Grove’s Encyclopedia of Music.
Personally I would have preferred that more composers have been included. John Field, in my opinion, a greater and more distinctive composer than Hummel, is left out, whereas Hummel is included. Paisiello, too, is left out though Cimarosa isn’t. Purcell and Vivaldi are relegated to the ‘Other Composers’ Section! Marginal composers Thomas Arne and Antonio Soler are given their due while the much more talented sons of Bach, Wilhelm Friedemann and Johann Christian are excluded. Puzzling! Amongst minor composers of Romantic opera, Lortzing and Nikolai are preserved, but Flotow is sacrificed.
I also could not quite understand the pages devoted to Paganini, in truth a second tier composer despite his influence. Furthermore, short-lived geniuses like George Pinto, Vorisek, Arriaga and Lekeu are left out in favour of long-lived mediocrities such as Boieldieu and Auber.
But for most enthusiasts of music who are happy just to know the major composers, I must say that this book is adequate.
Rating: 3 / 5
#3 by Catherine M on April 23, 2010 - 12:34 am
Anything you wanted to know about you favourite classical composer, you will find it here. Written in an extremely accessible style. Covers composers from Medieval to Modern periods. Includes glossary of musical terms. Absolutely awesome!!
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Wyote on April 23, 2010 - 1:15 am
I’m no classical music expert, but I’m a big fan.
I recommend this book very strongly to everyone, along with The Vintage Guide to Classical Music. (You might also consider What to Listen for in Music, and, very much worth the price if you’re serious, Listening to Music (with CD).)
The value of a book like this is that you can be a lot more confident that you will find something you like when you go to the music store. I had no idea who Respighi was, but thanks to this book (as well as a helpful internet site) he has become one of my new favorites. My opinion of Mendelssohn has been elevated thanks to this book (and his music, of course). I tried a few of Mozart’s less famous symphonies (compared to #s 40 and 41), and one of his recommendations (#38, “Prague”) has become one of my favorites. I’m sure that almost everyone will have similar experiences, and that is why you can’t go wrong with this book.
(Though it is true that some websites can be helpful, it is also true that the author of this book, a professor at the Julliard School, is far more knowledgeable than probably any site on the internet.)
The book features biographies of perhaps 50 of the most important composers (around 10 pages each) and briefer (up to a page, rarely a little more) sketches of another 150 or so. For the most important composers, there are brief (up to a page) descriptions of their “greatest hits,” with a list of their other most famous works. The minor composers only get the list of works, which tend in their cases to be a little shorter than some would prefer. Nevertheless, the two thousand or so most famous pieces of music are included in the lists.
It’s true that this book is a little weak on early music–much of which has only recently become popular, or even recorded–but it’s amazing on everything from the 1750s onward, which is most of the classical music that most people really care about.
I should also point out that if your primary goal is to build an impressive collection of classical music, this book will aid you greatly, as its title suggests. Here the only weakness is again the early music, though I supsect the next 50 years some of the enthusiasm for early music will fade, and will show us which of it proves lastingly popular.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Konstantin on April 23, 2010 - 3:43 am
This book I believe is a good “2nd Step” into classical music, meaning you know a little about a few pieces, a few composers, etc. Now you want to know what to look into next, and you don’t know anyone who likes classical music because you’ve spent most of the last four years of your life in Iraq…sorry about that. Anyway this book is great, a lot of info about nearly every relevant composer and most of the relevant pieces. Getting ready to make the 2nd step? Read this…and keep me updated!
Rating: 5 / 5