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All Music Guide to Classical Music: The Definitive Guide to Classical Music
(Book). This is the definitive source for composers, compositions, and genres. The book contains over 500 composer and 800 performer biographies. Each artist entry includes vital statistics and album recommendations. The book covers thousands of compositions, including operas, symphonies, concertos, and ballets, and it includes 23 essays devoted to classical music's major eras, forms, and genres. Choral works, songs, keyboard works, chamber music, and film scores receive dedicated sections. Includes 4,000 descriptions of composers' works and 12,000 recordings recommended by All Music Guide editors.
- GenresMusic
1608 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2005
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May 4, 2021
This definitely lives up to its subtitle of "definitive," at least in the sense that it is an exhaustive, encylopedic tome of almost everything the average classical listener needs while they play music; and all in 1610 pages of 9-point (small) type. The AMG Guide includes concise biographies of composers, conductors, musicians, orchestras, and other musical groups, both contemporary and historical.
This book is especially useful to those who listen via MP3 download or streaming services like Amazon Music, Spotify, etc., where the program notes often found on CDs and LPs are not available. The listener will find program notes for virtually everything Beethoven and Mozart (for instance) wrote that are ever performed or recorded (EVERYTHING--nearly). Even "minor" composers are included. The chance that the listener will find program notes on just about anything they come across in recorded classical music is extremely high.
In addition, there are essays in an appendix on subjects such as classical music for beginners, form in classical music, the eras of classical music (classical, romantic, modern, etc.), film music, opera, you name it. It's here.
I find myself referring to the AMG Guide nearly every day. I recommend it highly.
This book is especially useful to those who listen via MP3 download or streaming services like Amazon Music, Spotify, etc., where the program notes often found on CDs and LPs are not available. The listener will find program notes for virtually everything Beethoven and Mozart (for instance) wrote that are ever performed or recorded (EVERYTHING--nearly). Even "minor" composers are included. The chance that the listener will find program notes on just about anything they come across in recorded classical music is extremely high.
In addition, there are essays in an appendix on subjects such as classical music for beginners, form in classical music, the eras of classical music (classical, romantic, modern, etc.), film music, opera, you name it. It's here.
I find myself referring to the AMG Guide nearly every day. I recommend it highly.
Displaying 1 of 1 review