The Rough Guide to Classical Music

by Duncan Clark

This expanded and completely revised fourth edition is a unique handbook, spanning a thousand years of music from Gregorian chant via Bach and Beethoven to current leading lights such as Thomas Adès and Kaija Saariaho.

There are concise biographical profiles of more than 200 composers and informative summaries of the major compositions in all genres, from chamber works to operatic epics. Topics such as the influence of jazz, notation, conducting, the madrigal, and why Stradivarius made such great violins are covered fully in feature boxes. The Rough Guide has been praised for its mix of well-known composers with more obscure, but interesting, figures (like Antoine Brumel and Barbara Strozzi), and for the way it takes contemporary music seriously.

Genres: Music, Reference, Nonfiction, Classical Music, Cultural

640 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

Reviews

[P.J. MacNamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somebody bought me this as a present in the late 90s. I hate to say it, but it put me off ever buying any other so-called "Rough Guides". If you are obsessive about classical music to the exclusion of all else and you're not happy unless you have absorbed every insignificant piece of information on it that exists in the universe then this book is for you. I'm not like that. I am interested in music, and I'm interested in classical music to the extent that I have a collection of about 600 classical CDs and several books on the subject, but I have a lot of other interests too, and this was just too much for me. A book with a quarter of the amount of text (in slightly larger, darker print, preferably) and some decent pictures would have sufficed. I also sense that the publishers have tried too hard to make classical music look / sound "cool and happening" here, and I think that might put some of the more traditional audience off. As I said, this was a present. No way would I have bought it for myself if I'd got a good look at it first. I don't know if all the books in this series are this full-on, but if they are, how they can call them "Rough Guides" is beyond me. I've given this book four stars in spite of my reservations because so much hard work and dedication clearly went into it, and I'm always very appreciative of that.

I do have a large format, illustrated book that I bought myself called simply "Classical Composers" which I bought myself and which did the trick for me, but it's buried somewhere and I can't find it. I had intended to review it on here but I didn't recognise what came up under the title and I don't remember the author's name. If I find it I'll get back to you.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very impressed with The Rough Guide series in music in general, as can be seen by the ones I've read on individual bands. This one if an overview of all the important and many of the lesser known classical music composers. It's a type of encyclopedia, so most people won't read it all at once. However, over the last two years I've read just about every entry, many in the bath. (Where better to enjoy Handel's Water Music?) Pity, judicious and well written.

[Pete Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geat introduction to classical music. If you have the slightest interest in classical music, and if you don't you should - it will change your life, get this book. It contains articles on the lives of composers, discusses their work and recommends recordings to listen to. It also explains musical terms used in classical music. A really good primer - treat yourself, buy it and start listening to great music. You will thank me.

[Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rough it til you make it

[Yazir Paredes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite classical music reference book. Covers a good number of composers, their life, works, and even recommended discography. With sidebars on music history, it is easy to read while covering a good deal of information.

[DJ Yossarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just amazing.