The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Classical Music

Rating:
Summary: Valuable both as a reference and for browsing
Review: A team of writers and scholars compiled the Encyclopedia Of Classical Music, an in-depth encyclopedia of classical music which packs in over 900 color illustrations to accompany a thorough history and survey which extends from ancient through modern times. Introductions for each major period includes surveys of key composers, changes in musical styles, forms, and analysis of instruments. Recommended CD listings, a glossary and extensive discography and bibliography, and subject and name indexes make this valuable both as a reference and for browsing.

Rating:
Summary: The first great book on music of the millenium
Review: I have never read a book like this one before.
So well written and illustrated. It is forwarded
by Vladimir Ashkenazy. The book starts with a section
about music in non-western civilizations, there it
explains the role of music in early cultures of the world,
From Ancient Egypt, to China; from the Ancient American
cultures, to Africa; and from Oceania to the near east to
the Holy Roman Empire, this section of the book has it all.
Then the book is divided in by order of musical periods
thru the ages. Starting with the medieval era, it lists
key events of this period, starting in the 800's. It mentions
and tells about the great names of the era in music,
including de Vitry(1291-1361) and Machaut(1300-1377).
It also explains such teaching devices as the 'Guidonian Hand'.
Then comes the Renaissance, here, it explains the rise
of humanism, it speaks also of major events of the time.
It also tells a bit about the Reinassance courts of Europe
and the composers of the time:Cristobal de Morales(1500-53)
Thomas Morley(1557-1602), Orlande de Lasuss(1532-94). This
section also speaks of the rise of instruments.
One to the Baroque where the where we are start seeing the
the start of new musical forms and procedures, sucha as the
masque, the music drama, the French grand motet.Also music in tenary form etc. The section on the classical period again famous
composers and musicians, explinations of classicism, rococco, and the instruments of the time.More on composers, specially Mozart and Beethoven.On to the the romantic period where we start
to see development in musical instruments, and styles, we also
see how the orchestra gets bigger. Finally, the book comes to
the early and late 20th century. The book does a wonderful job, pictures and tales of 20th century composers. This is the first
book that I have where I find a picture of John Adams and Sofia Gubaidulina in in the same book, in this book, for the first time also, our contemporary composers are treated with great respect, and as equal to their counterparts of the bygone ages. I picture that I like very much is in PG.324 where Cage, and Boulez shake hands in fron of Massien. The art work is of the best quality.This is indeed a good book that I recomend to every classical music lover, and friend. The amazon.com price is so
affordable, and competitive.