The Lives of the Great Composers

Rating:
Summary: Great Resource
Review: This is an excellent resource for learning and reading about the lives and works of the world's greatest composers. I literally read this book so much that it fell apart. As a composition student I am sometimes asked by people "where I should go to learn what composers and what compositions I should read". I recommend this book first.

Rating:
Summary: Readable and informative but reflects author's biases
Review: This newly-revised contemporary "classic" by the New York Times music critic Harold Schonberg should remain a fixture on the bookshelf of any classical music lover. The "stand-alone" chapters often compare and contrast the life histories and creative output of contemporaneous composers (eg. Bach vs. Handel; Chopin vs. Liszt vs. Mendelssohn). The book also reflects Mr. Schonberg's particular musical biases. For example, Vivaldi, Locatelli and other non-Bachian, non-Handelian Baroque composers are given little attention, and "NeoBaroque" minimalist composers of this century are regarded as creators of "wallpaper music" (p. 617). In fact, he devotes minimal space to composers born in the 20th century! On the other hand, Mr. Schonberg really likes Chabrier! Clearly, this is not an important reference on modern composers, but it is a concise, enjoyable and highly readable introduction to some of the most creative musical minds that have graced the planet.

Rating:
Summary: Readable and informative but reflects author's biases
Review: This newly-revised contemporary "classic" by the New York Times music critic Harold Schonberg should remain a fixture on the bookshelf of any classical music lover. The "stand-alone" chapters often compare and contrast the life histories and creative output of contemporaneous composers (eg. Bach vs. Handel; Chopin vs. Liszt vs. Mendelssohn). The book also reflects Mr. Schonberg's particular musical biases. For example, Vivaldi, Locatelli and other non-Bachian, non-Handelian Baroque composers are given little attention, and "NeoBaroque" minimalist composers of this century are regarded as creators of "wallpaper music" (p. 617). In fact, he devotes minimal space to composers born in the 20th century! On the other hand, Mr. Schonberg really likes Chabrier! Clearly, this is not an important reference on modern composers, but it is a concise, enjoyable and highly readable introduction to some of the most creative musical minds that have graced the planet.

Rating:
Summary: Good overview of classical music
Review: When I first read "The Lives of the Great Composers" by Harold C. Schonberg, it was the second edition, published 1n 1981. That edition probably did more than any other on the subject of classical music to turn my casual interest in this musical genre into a genuine passion. So, when I recently saw a copy of the third edition in my local bookstore, I eagerly bought it. It's still a very well written book, made up of short biographies of those composers whom Schonberg considers the greatest or most influential of their times. It's an invaluable aid for readers interested in learning more about classical music and the great creative geniuses who composed it. The biographical essays are written with wit and eloquence. (I found myself really liking Joseph Haydn the man, and gaining a greater appreciation for his music as well.) The author's prose is clear, concise, easily understood, and written for (in his words) "the intelligent, music-loving lay audience." He avoids technical jargon, which is commendable.

However, to my disappointment, the third edition is not as good as its predecessor. Many of what the author considers "improvements" in the Third Edition actually detracted from its usefulness to me. For example, in the second edition, Schonberg provided short sections which explained the different musical periods - (i.e., Baroque, Classical, Romantic.) These were eliminated in the third edition, even though they're probably invaluable teaching tools for non-academic, non-musicologists like myself. I also found myself wondering about how the author selected composers for inclusion in the new edition. For example, I understand why he included Claudio Monteverdi, whose music has recently entered the performing repertory, but why does he exclude Antonio Vivaldi, especially when his music has remained in the performing repertory for nearly three centuries?

Having said all this, "The Lives of the Great Composers" is still an excellent book, and a worthy companion to Jan Swafford's "Vintage Guide to Classical Music." Both should be on every classical music lovers' bookshelf.

Rating:
Summary: Good overview of classical music
Review: When I first read "The Lives of the Great Composers" by Harold C. Schonberg, it was the second edition, published 1n 1981. That edition probably did more than any other on the subject of classical music to turn my casual interest in this musical genre into a genuine passion. So, when I recently saw a copy of the third edition in my local bookstore, I eagerly bought it. It's still a very well written book, made up of short biographies of those composers whom Schonberg considers the greatest or most influential of their times. It's an invaluable aid for readers interested in learning more about classical music and the great creative geniuses who composed it. The biographical essays are written with wit and eloquence. (I found myself really liking Joseph Haydn the man, and gaining a greater appreciation for his music as well.) The author's prose is clear, concise, easily understood, and written for (in his words) "the intelligent, music-loving lay audience." He avoids technical jargon, which is commendable.

However, to my disappointment, the third edition is not as good as its predecessor. Many of what the author considers "improvements" in the Third Edition actually detracted from its usefulness to me. For example, in the second edition, Schonberg provided short sections which explained the different musical periods - (i.e., Baroque, Classical, Romantic.) These were eliminated in the third edition, even though they're probably invaluable teaching tools for non-academic, non-musicologists like myself. I also found myself wondering about how the author selected composers for inclusion in the new edition. For example, I understand why he included Claudio Monteverdi, whose music has recently entered the performing repertory, but why does he exclude Antonio Vivaldi, especially when his music has remained in the performing repertory for nearly three centuries?

Having said all this, "The Lives of the Great Composers" is still an excellent book, and a worthy companion to Jan Swafford's "Vintage Guide to Classical Music." Both should be on every classical music lovers' bookshelf.

Rating:
Summary: Enrich Your Mind
Review: Without a doubt "Lives of the Great Composers" is one of the finest biographical books on composers in existence. The information presented is neither too brief nor overly exhaustive; it provides an invaluable source of information whilst keeping extraneous and tedious knowledge to a bare minimum. Each page is as interesting and informative as each other and will always be a great pleasure to read, never a bore.