From Library Journal
An accomplished violinist, Berger has played in orchestras under many famous conductors, supplied program notes for concerts and recordings, taught at the City University of New York, and lectured widely. Intent on providing a guide that would help others enjoy orchestral music to the fullest, Berger (Guide to Choral Masterpieces, LJ 10/1/93) chose the entries by studying the programs of orchestral concerts and music radio stations, perusing CD catalogs, and seeking the opinions of various eminent musicians, as well as drawing from his own background in music. Each entry begins with a short sketch detailing the circumstances surrounding the creation of a composition; a brief analysis of its form and occasionally a delightful anecdote are also included. An appendage of "75 more masterpieces" generally given a sentence each seems like a tease. Perhaps Berger should think of doing a supplement that would give proper treatment to those additional works. Essentially an endeavor of personal taste, this guide may inspire readers to investigate similarly well-done works, such as D. Kern Holoman's Evenings with the Orchestra (Norton, 1992). Recommended as a succinct guide for academic and public libraries.
Kathleen Sparkman, Baylor Univ., Waco, Tex.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Kathleen Sparkman, Baylor Univ., Waco, Tex.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From the Publisher
Throughout the year, millions of music lovers across America attend orchestra concerts, or relax to the soothing and inspiring sounds of their favorite composers on classical radio or CD. The Anchor Guide to Orchestral Masterpieces offers those classical music lovers a comprehensive and accessible listener's guide to the great orchestral masterpieces. The book includes the finest works by a dazzling array of composers, from Benjamin Britten and Anton Bruckner to Richard Wagner and Carl Maria von Weber, from the nineteenth-century Romantics to the atonal musical explorers of the twentieth century. Arranged alphabetically by composer, each entry discusses the back end of the piece and the history of the composer, provides an analysis of the music, and describes the importance of its place in the repertoire. The author complements his keen observations with a glossary defining and explaining orchestral terms that may be unfamiliar to the general reader, and with an extensive discography of recommended composers, conductors, and orchestras. For those trying to decide which concert series to subscribe to, seeking advice on expanding a home classical music library, or for more experienced aficionados who want additional background on specific compositions, The Anchor Guide to Orchestral Masterpieces will prove itself indispensable.
