Beethoven, Revised Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the second edition of Solomon's biography of Beethoven and it isan improvement in terms of both analysis and lucidity.
The book iswritten from a psychoanalytic point of view that all may not findconvincing.However, the rudiments of Mr. Solomon's analysis, in terms oftracing Beethoven's life problems, his difficulties with women, with peers,and with himself to his childhood experiences probably transcends anyspecific psychological dogma and is insightful.
The book is a biographyrather than an attempt at technical musical analysis.Even so, itelucidates the music well and with an obvious love for it.I found thediscussion of Beethoven's final period works, and of his sometimesneglected vocal writings, particularly good.
The sections on Beethoven'srelationship with Haydn, on his testament written upon the discovery of hisimpending deafnesson the immortal beloved, and on his relationship withhis nephew are all thoughtful and helped me better understandBeethoven.
A wonderful book for anybody who loves this composer or wantsto learn more about why other people love him.

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Softcover edition of this national bestseller!Hailed as a masterpiece for its original interpretations of Beethoven's life and music.This edition takes into account the latest information and literature.Includes a 30-page bibliographical essay, numerous illustrations and a full-color pictorial biography of the composer.

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The Mikado: Chorus Parts (Opera) Review

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(More customer reviews)While some Gilbert & Sullivan devotees may quibble with this Canadian version of their masterpiece, THE MIKADO, there's no denying this version's infectious energy and fun.This production by the Stratford Festival is awash with high-jinks antics, solid acting and a boldness rarely seen since the Kevin Kline/Linda Ronstadt version of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.Director Brian Macdonald directs this production with a sure hand and a fine sense of humor.Eric Donkin makes for a solid and delightfully uptight Ko-Ko, while the tall and very lanky Richard McMillan steals the show as the self important Pooh-Bah.Marie Baron's Yum-Yum is a pure delight, and Karen Wood is a delightful Pitti-Sing.Gidon Saks makes for a rather hammy, but delightfully fierce, Mikado.Henry Ingram seems a little old for the youthful Nanki-Poo, but he definitely gets into the spirit of this wonderfully broad production.Some fans may not appreciate the "modern" Canadian references nor the very slight liberties in the score, but this is probably the one production that doesn't treat the immortal work like a museum piece.This is definitely the best version on DVD to date and one that I would definitely recommend.

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English Only.

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The Pirates of Penzance in Full Score Review

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(More customer reviews)Dover's annotated full score of G&S's "Pirates" is not only well printed but useful.It contains many comments about alternate versions of the orchestral parts and a short history of its multi-continental premiere.

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The witty and rollicking tale of a young man apprenticed to a band of pirates too kindhearted for their own good, The Pirates of Penzance, or The Slave of Duty remains one of Gilbert and Sullivan's most beloved and frequently revived works. This newly engraved performing edition is based on Sullivan's autograph, contemporary copyists' scores, and both the first and second editions of the vocal score. It corrects numerous errors that have crept in over the years and is the first edition to offer performers the choice of using either the 1880 or 1908 versions of the Act II finale. Aficionados will be particularly delighted with the first accurate full score of the "Climbing over Rocky Mountain" section, which incorporates music from the legendary lost Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Thespis. Introduction by the editors. Instrumentation.

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Tchaikovsky: A Listener's Guide Book/2 CD Pack Unlocking the Masters Series Review

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(More customer reviews)Tchaikovsky was a composer of lovely melodies rooted in his personal angst: TCHAIKOVSKY: A LISTENER'S GUIDE blends prose to music by offering two accompanying cds from classical music cd publisher Naxos to accompany author Daniel Felsenfeld's exploration of his most notable works. The pairing of text from a music writer and composer with the master pieces of an artist makes for a particularly involving production perfect for newcomers to Tchaikovsky's works. Perfect for high school-level music libraries or any general lending collection handling cds and text alike.

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Composer and author Daniel Felsenfeld takes the reader on a tour of some of the "Little Russian's" most beloved works, including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, 1812 Overture, Romeo and Juliet, Symphonies Nos. 4 and 6, the Serenade for Strings, and his Violin Concerto. The book is a series of blow-by-blow listening sections matched to the music on two accompanying CDs, guiding the reader through these magical compositions, illuminating their edges and fine points.

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The Authentic Gilbert & Sullivan Songbook Review

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(More customer reviews)When I ordered this book, I did not realize that it contained facsimiles of earlier texts (or an earlier text). My real and only objection is that the print and the notes are fairly small and a trifle unclear.It would be difficult to put in on a piano and try to read it.
Loved the illustrations and the feel of the book.

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Fortunately many of the early vocal scores authorized by Sir Arthur Sullivan still exist--and are reprinted here. This volume features 92 songs from all 14 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, reproduced here in the original key, in Sullivan's original piano arrangements. Included are songs from such well known works as HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, as well as lesser known productions.

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Brahms - A Listener's Guide: Unlocking the Masters Series Review

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(More customer reviews)After reading otherbooks in this series, particularly those of Dave Hurwitz and John Bell Young's survey of the Beethoven Symphonies, I was eager to get my hands onthis latest volume about Brahms. As I am in the publishing business, I had been privy to some great "buzz"about this one from the book'spublicists, includingsuperlative recommendations of it from such august luminaries as Hugh Downs and the famous British pianist and MacArthur"genius grant" recipient, Stephen Hough. It seems that Hough is not the only one to be honored. The Kittredge Foundation out of Harvard University recognized Young with a grant of its own for this and the other books he wrote for the series. However, I also read an unfavorable review here at Amazon recently by a non-musician, who was evidently looking for amore run-of-the-mill biography or maybe something simple minded. He complained that Young's book is too technical and that he couldn't understand it. That's a legitimate complaint if you're unwilling to take the trouble to learn something new about something complex (this book is mostly about the composer's music, not his life), and that will require at least some minimum effort from the reader. It's a book for adults, after all, not four year olds. As I do have some background in music theory, that critiquedidn't worry me too much, though I have to admit to some bias. Even so, I enjoyed Young'sbook on Beethoven enormously so I thought I'd give this one a read, too.

I can say unequivocally that Young's prose style is phenomenal, even poetic; just have a look at his breathtaking description of the slow movement of the Violin Concerto. The CD attached to the book includes a performance of it with an amazing French violinist from the 1940s, Ginette Neveu, who I had never heard of until now. There are also performances by Furtwangler which, though beautiful,sound a bit worn and scratchy. There are also severalvery exciting performances by three newcomer pianists who Young praises in his introduction as worthy of attention. I have to agree, as they play beautifully. He explains in a brief sidebar that the "Unlocking the Masters" series is committed to providing opportunities to lesser known artists, rather than promoting famous names for the umpteenth time. That's commendable no matter how you slice it.

I fact, I found most of the book is exceptionally reader friendly, and even provocative (there's a lengthy and fascinating discussionabout Brahms's possible paternity, for example.) Where there is technical discussion of the music (its structure and harmony), it is laid out in such a way as to be self-explanatory, and eminently understandable; anyone who really loves music, and especially the music of Brahms, ought to be willing to make the effort if they want to learn something more substantial. I speak only for myself when I say that I read this book, and others in teh series, in order to learn something, not to be entertained. This is not a superficial study, though it IS a most enjoyable read.Young also provides a comprehensive glossary of musical terms at the end of the book, which clearlydescribes many musical concepts and terms in a way that anyone can understand. No one will have to run to a dictionary to look anything up, as the glossary includes everything you may need to know. It'sthe few minutes it takes to learn something more.He also makes a number of historical references that are both entertaining and relevant -- his discussion of gypsy culture and music and its influence on Brahms is particularly stimulating --and places Brahms in a context that helps us understand why he wrote the kind ofmusic he did.

For musicians and those who love the music of Brahms, this book is a must-have. Those who are looking for a simple biography, or who are not up to challenging themselves intellectually with a bracing read, had better look elsewhere. This book is not for them. For those who want to look deeply intoBrahms the composer and his music, Young's book is as good as it gets, and a tremendous asset.

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In this survey of Brahm's music, John Bell Young explores in depth the composer's private world of musical intimacies that infuriated Wagner, but inspired Schumann, Schoenberg, and millions of music lovers for generations to come. He also addresses a controversial issue long-neglected by biographers and critics: Did Brahms sire an illegitimate child, and in the absence of concrete evidence, did he leave behind clues in his allusion-rich music? Accompanying the book is a CD featuring rare performances of Wilhelm Furtwangler, alongside brand new recordings of three extraordinary pianists.

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The Mikado in Full Score Review

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(More customer reviews)Any lover of this Gilbert & Sullivan masterpiece will gain a fuller appreciation of it by being able to follow the lyrics and dialog while listening to the operetta. The score also has a nicely written preface and synopsis of the story. Although knowing how to read music is not essential to the enjoyment of this Mikado full score, buyers that do read music will gain an even greater appreciation of it by being able to follow each instrumental line along with the lyrics of the songs. The Dover score is beautifully printed at a very bargain price to boot. Everyone can derive a great deal of pleasure from this score, no matter what level of musical training they possess. Highly Recommended! (P.S. I understand that the full score of The Pirates of Penzance is due for release this fall)

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The tale of Nanki-Poo and his passion for Yum-Yum has charmed audiences since its 1885 debut with graceful, well-loved melodies such as "Three little maids from school are we," "The flowers that bloom in the spring, tra-la," and many others. Now available in a newly edited, newly engraved full-score publication based on Sullivan's autograph and the first edition of the full score, this new performing edition by Ephraim Jones and Carl Simpson corrects many errors and incorporates Gilbert's later libretto changes.

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Chopin - A Listener's Guide to the Master of the Piano: Unlocking the Masters Series Review

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(More customer reviews)Amadeus Press has filled a underserved niche in the classical music literature with these marvelous little guides to the great composers and their greatest compositions.They fill the gap between the highly detailed, scholarly volumes of the lives of the great composers ... and the too-superficial tiny guides that offer too little program notes on the music or the composer.It gives you a compelling "play-by-play" description of each composition without venturing into musicology that would lose a beginner.The entire series is extremely well written and make a great guides to new discoveries.It should appeal to beginners as well as classical veterans alike.This Chopin volume is proving to be a valuable guide as I explore in depth Chopin's music and the great performances on disc.

Every major category is covered in satisfying depth to give you solid understanding of what is behind each work - and what in particular is historically and musically significant in them.ALl major works are covered: the lilting Waltzes .. the pensive and sometimes turbulent Nocturnes ... the weighty Sonatas, Scherzos and Ballades ... the delicate miniatures ... the amazing early piano concertos ... the showpieces, Etudes, Preludes and even the few chamber pieces of Chopin are explored to reveal many curious historic details.

This volume on Chopin makes for compelling reading and is one of the only modern volumes of program notes on the piano music of Chopin I could find.The number of works covered is large and satisfying with enough detail to give you a deep appreciation of the significance, musical structures and impact of each work.In a way, it reads much like program notes in a CD, but covering the entire range of Chopin's life and works.Other reviews below outline the range covered.The volume, supplemented by classic volume like Schonberg's "Lives of the Great Composers" should give a high quality education to the music of Chopin.This book includes a Naxos CD containing performances by Idl Bieret which gives a quality intro to Chopin, but some listeners will surely want to explore the great Chopin performances of pianists like Rubinstein, Horowitz, Kissin, Perahia, Argerich and many others.Bottom line: these "Unlocking the Masters Series" are a great investment to deepening one's appreciation that will not go out of style any time soon.5 stars.

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Frederic Chopin died a famous man with his place in the musical pantheon secure. Yet the works that were once most popular tended to be his lightest and least challenging, leading many listeners and critics to view him as a miniaturist and composer for the salon. The bold pieces now revered as his masterpieces-the epic and tragic structures of the ballades, scherzos, polonaises, and sonatas, and the compact but daring preludes and mazurkas-were rarely played and poorly understood. In fact, a larger proportion of Chopin's pieces are now in the active repertory than that of any composer. Chopin - A Listener's Guide to the Master of the Piano takes a detailed tour through the life and oeuvre of the sovereign master of the keyboard. The composer's metabolic adaptation of the melodic structures of Italian opera and the folk music of his native Poland for the resources of the piano are examined in detail, as are the originality and boldness he displayed throughout his tragically short, astonishing career. The book is accompanied by a CD containing 15 complete compositions (and one full movement from his Piano Sonata No. 2) performed by pianist Idil Biret, from her complete survey of the composer's music on the Naxos label.

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Unlocking the Masters Series: Beethoven Symphonies Book/CD (Softcover) Review

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(More customer reviews)I picked this book up on a whim. I've always loved Beethoven's music,but the symphonies, in my opinion, stand out as the greatest of all. This book puts each one of them in its historical and artistic context, allowing you to understand what his music meant to the people of Beethoven's time as well as our own,Young is an amazing writer, as he explains things in a colorful and exceptionally vivid way that does not require any technical knowledge of music (which is totally unlike Charles Rosen's books on classical music, which I plowed through, but which I found way too technical, labored, and turgid). His analyses of the symphonies are really very cogent and easily understandable, but also sharp and intelligent. He doesn't talk down to the reader, or dumb things down, but brings the music to life in words.

Young'schapter on "intonatsiia" is especially fascinating and actually, very useful for the neophytes among us, as it details an approach to listening to music from the inside out. I'd never heard of "intonatsia" until now and it was really a revelation. All in all, this is an absolutely enthralling read that is hard to put down,by an author who I can say is certainly the most engaging, brilliant, and communicativewriter about music since Leonard Bernstein. It comes with a CD, too, with one movement of each symphony excitingly conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler.

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The latest release in this value rich book/CD series brings us the great German composer who bridged the classical and romantic eras. In Beethoven's Symphonies - A Guided Tour, readers are treated to a detailed nuts-and-bolts description in easy-to-understand English of each of the famous nine Beethoven symphonies. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to read, listen, and learn more about Beethoven (1770-1827), and discover how this musical genius changed the face of orchestral music forever.

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Dvorak : Romantic Music's Most Versatile Genius (with CD) (Unlocking the Masters Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)'... If one defines greatness as the ability to create a series of masterpieces over a broad range of musical media, then Dvorak was, demonstrably and without exaggeration, the greatest composer of the last half of the nineteenth century.' This quotation from Mr. Hurwitz leaves litle to question about his opinion of Dvorak. And in the last half of the nineteenth century when Brahms, Mahler, Wagner, Tchaikovshy, Verdi, Strauss, and Sibelius were working. Not a bad company with which to be associated.

Mr. Hurwitz has a reputation for taking the work of a composer (Wagner, Mahler, Mozart) and providing an insight into the music, it's history, it's derivation to give the reader a better understanding of the music you are hearing.

The book is about 250 pages long, and the book comes with two full length audio CD's containing 22 tracks of Dvorak's work. These serve to illustrate Mr. Hurwitz's commentary and analysis.

A book of this length and two classical CD's for this price is extraordinary in itself.

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The music of Antonin Dvorák defies fashion. He is one of the very few composers whose works entered the international mainstream during his own lifetime, and some of them have remained there ever since. The pieces that historically define his inter

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