Erich Leinsdorf on Music

Rating:
Summary: a definite "grabber"
Review: Having just received a reviwer copy of "Erich Leinsdorf On Music", I did something very dangerous. To my time, that is. I opened the book and was swept away by Leinsdorf's insights and conversational, free-flowing style of writing. Those music lovers who know Maestro Leinsdorf as one of the finest conductors of the century without knowing his writings are missing an essential part of his genius. This book is a collection of his verious essays on music but, unlike many other essay collections, these are arranged as subchapters under common headings. There is a natural flow and rhythm as if they were written as a continuous chapter rather than spread over several years. Naturally, I don't agree with everything Maestro Leinsdorf writes but who says we have to and why quibble over small points? Here is one of the great figures of 20th century music sharing the benefit of many years on the podium with us so I, for one, will gladly sit back and enjoy this book. It's a pity he didn't write one on Mahler's music. It would've been a masterpiece. Unfortunately, his earlier books, "Cadenza" and "The Composer's Advocate", seem to be out of print but maybe Amadeus can help out (hint, hint). Bottom line: this is a book that belongs on the shelf of any lover of great music and one that, like Leinsdorf's recordings, will be returned to as an old friend. Get it, give it, or put it on your holiday list.