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249th out of 699 books
—
479 voters
The Lives of the Great Composers
In this new edition, Harold Schonberg offers music lovers a series of fascinating biographical chapters. Music, the author contends, is a continually evolving art, and all geniuses, unique as they are, were influenced by their predecessors. Schonberg discusses the lives and works of the foremost figures in classical music, among them Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, the Schumanns,...more
Hardcover, 656 pages
Published
April 17th 1997
by W. W. Norton & Company
(first published January 1st 1970)
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Feb 12, 2012
Mark Dickson
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
any student of Western Classical music.
Shelves:
partially-read
Highly recommended!
This is one of my favorite books. I used to own the 1st edition when I was a 20-something, but it was lost along the way. I found this 3rd edition just recently and have loved revisiting these chapters.
The value is the 10-15 page chapters devoted to each composer. None of the treatments are thorough, but a single volume thread of composers from Monteverdi to Copland is just right for me. Especially when I just want an hour or two diversion to whatever else I'm reading.
This is one of my favorite books. I used to own the 1st edition when I was a 20-something, but it was lost along the way. I found this 3rd edition just recently and have loved revisiting these chapters.
The value is the 10-15 page chapters devoted to each composer. None of the treatments are thorough, but a single volume thread of composers from Monteverdi to Copland is just right for me. Especially when I just want an hour or two diversion to whatever else I'm reading.
I rarely read biography, especially biographies of writers and other artists. I assume anything worth knowing about them is in their art, that the source of their creativity is a different self from the person the artists' friends and family and public know. Also, artists are notoriously mistaken about themselves. You could even say they know themselves less well than does the average person who would no more think of writing a poem or a symphony than s/he would sign up to take a trip to the moo...more
This witty and fascinating march through history didn't cure me of my hate for "classical music" -- in fact it reinforced my belief that these highbrow genres were always made by and for European (or Europhile) religious, political, and economic elites. Yet it did grant me not only understanding and knowledge, but lots of gossip, dirt, rebellion, and insanity to chew on next time I deride classical as music for serial killers. An excellent book, recommended for everyone everywhere -- even haters...more
This is a very well written, informative overview of some of the most important composers of the Western tradition, from Bach to Webern. Schonberg has the power to make the same bare facts of a particular composer's life that I've read before in CD liner notes or reference book entries take on real drama and significance, without distorting the facts. He writes well about music, succeeding in conveying the experience of the various pieces discussed without growing stale or sounding pretentious....more
In this new edition, Harold Schonberg offers music lovers a series of fascinating biographical chapters. Music, the author contends, is a continually evolving art, and all geniuses, unique as they are, were influenced by their predecessors. Schonberg discusses the lives and works of the foremost figures in classical music, among them Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, the Schumanns, Copland, and Stravinsky, weaving a fabric rich in detail and anecdote. He also includes the creators of light music, such as...more
Harold C. Schonberg
The Lives of the Great Composers
W.W. Norton & Co., Hardback, 1997.
Third Edition.
First published in 1970.
Second Revised Edition, 1981.
Third Revised Edition, 1997.
Contents:
Preface [pp. 13-20:]
1. Pioneer of Opera: Claudio Monteverdi
2. Transfiguration of the Baroque: Johann Sebastian Bach
3. Composer and Impresario: George Frederic Handel
4. Reformer of Opera: Christoph Wilibald Gluck
5. Classicism par excellence: Joseph Haydn
6. Prodigy from Salzburg: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
7. Re...more
The Lives of the Great Composers
W.W. Norton & Co., Hardback, 1997.
Third Edition.
First published in 1970.
Second Revised Edition, 1981.
Third Revised Edition, 1997.
Contents:
Preface [pp. 13-20:]
1. Pioneer of Opera: Claudio Monteverdi
2. Transfiguration of the Baroque: Johann Sebastian Bach
3. Composer and Impresario: George Frederic Handel
4. Reformer of Opera: Christoph Wilibald Gluck
5. Classicism par excellence: Joseph Haydn
6. Prodigy from Salzburg: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
7. Re...more
Jul 15, 2008
Elaine
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anybody interested in the lives of the classical (style not era) composers
Shelves:
to-reread
I only read the 24th chapter of this book, Surcharged Emotionalism PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (pg. 366-377), for history. Be that as it may, I will try to give a review based on what I read. I felt that this book is very special and unique in it's layout. Schonberg gives detailed information, but not so detailed that it feels as though you are reading a 300 paged biography. He tells of the personal life on the composer, but unlike most books which will perhaps list when the composer wrote a certa...more
5/13 read: chapter 8, "poet of music, franz schubert". there's this whole bit about how beethoven was in vogue during much of schubert's life, and, despite a ridiculously huge and enormously beautiful catalog of music, was totally underappreciated during his life. he died in 1828. it follows that "it was robert schumann who unearthed [schubert's] ninth symphony, the 'great' c major. schumann had known of its existence and on new year's day of 1839 he visited schubert's brother ferdinand, who sho...more
For the classical music buff, and for others who want to read about important figures in music. Schonberg gets beneath the music to remark on the personalities who made the greatest sounds ever. Very readable, Schonberg is opinionated, so Mahler fans, for example, may not care much for his part of the book. He dispels certain assumptions; Chopin and Schubert are considered to be Romantic composers but they observed a lot of the traditional forms. Lots of interesting observations here.
I've been reading this book to bits for decades now (an earlier edition). The only reservation I have about Schonberg is that he didn't always write about the composers themselves with respect. But all his sins are forgiven him because of the short chapter he devoted to my beloved Hugo Wolf, of whose ultrasubtle, inspired settings of good poetry Schonberg said "No greater songs exist". Sometimes I agree with that.
This book is so much fun. I love classical music and biographies of composers, but I think that even if I didn't I would still enjoy this book. It covers Bach to Boulez and boils each biography down to, if not its essence, then at least its juicy details.
I read it a few years ago and in March I reread a bunch of composers. Still fun.
I read it a few years ago and in March I reread a bunch of composers. Still fun.
I love classical music, and I love Mr. Schonberg's writing! If you enjoy listening to and learning about classical music, I recommend this book very highly (second only to the Naxos website).
Thanks to my wonderful wife for this lovely Christmas present!
Thanks to my wonderful wife for this lovely Christmas present!
I read this book in 2002, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I even enjoyed the chapters devoted to the lesser known composers. An all around good read for people who like classical music.
One of the 10 books I will take to a desert island! He brings the mystical composers to life, makes them human. Have loved this book since it was first published.
Excellent for reference. Too much to digest in one sitting.
Fine biographies of the World's Great Composers.
I have read this book about 10 times and just love it.
This is a fantastic book, thoroughly researched, lucidly written and highly entertaining. It contains details on the lives of all the great composers and many of the more obscure ones as well. The composer Charles Ives became one of my heroes after reading this. One of my friends is currently writing an instructional book on playing the guitar titled, How to Become a Guitar Player from Hell, and he told me this book really inspired him and also influenced some of the musical ideas he decided to...more
Bach was probably 5' 7.5" tall. Fun, huh.
Invaluable reference, and a delightful read, by the once-music critic of the NY Times.
Nov 08, 2010
Greg Simmons
added it
very good very in depth.
A great reference.
I am using this book to read about composers my children are studying in their Charlotte Mason-inspired Composer Studies. So far I have only read the chapter on Wagner; it is very engaging.
i read this one once a week one week at a time in the bookstore without ever buying it. just good synopsis of every important composer pretty much ever.
this book tell us about the unique life of every great composer in europe. very good book because it's detail enough to describe the composer
Great, short bios of all the great Classical composers from the Pulizter prize-winning former New York Times music critic.
Where I get all my facts about the greats. You love their music, now get to know them.
Great resource. Very thorough and interesting
REally cool
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Harold Charles Schonberg was an American music critic and journalist, most notably for The New York Times. He was the first music critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism (1971). He was the author of a number of books on musical subjects, and also one on chess.
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