The Big Book of Classical Music [Paperback]

Hal Leonard Corp. (Creator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1999

All your favorite piano masterpieces in one convenient collection! This book features solo arrangements of 100 classics by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Faure, Franck, Gounod, Grieg, Handel, Haydn, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Pachelbel, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Vivaldi, Wagner, and more!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Founded in 1947, Hal Leonard Corporation has become the worlds largest print music publisher, representing some of the greatest songwriters and artists of all time. We are proud to publish titles of interest to all musicians as well as music lovers, from songbooks and instructional titles to artist biographies and instrument price guides to books about the music industry and all the performing arts.

Product Details

Sample Music Notation [20kb PDF]

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation (August 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0634006819
• ISBN-13: 978-0634006814
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Arrangements of famous Orchestral/Operatic pieces, June 3, 2006

By 

miditrax (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Book of Classical Music (Paperback)

Went to the local library in search of some Classical wedding/sacred music and checked out this book. It has both Mendelssohn's Wedding March and Wagner's Bridal Chorus as well as Pachebel's Canon in D. Like these pieces, there are a lot of arrangements of symphonic favorites - think a "Greatest Hits" Classical collection - but the quality is high. Most are moderate/advanced diffuculty- about the level of Thompson's grade 5 book, or Mozart's Sonata in C (I am a piano teacher). The original pieces for piano tend to be a little harder. The Baroque pieces (Bach, Handel, Haydn) are a bit easier.

There is also the theme from "Masterpiece Theatre" (RONDEAU by Jean-Joseph Mouret)

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not too hard, November 29, 2006

By 

Barbara B. Kenney - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Big Book of Classical Music (Paperback)

My biggist need for piano music bought online is to know exactly how difficult the music is. I play a lot of classical...this book has mostly pieces which have been transcribed from orchestral...such as adagio for strings. They are nice transcriptions, many not found elsewhere, and only of moderate difficulty (I actually prefer them to be a bit harder but it is by no means an easy or beginner book) so it is a good book for sight reading practice. There is out there the same book with easier versions of the music...I have forgotten the title. Nice collection.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Challenge and Variety, January 4, 2006

By 

S. Warren (Tacoma, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Big Book of Classical Music (Paperback)

I have had a wonderful time with this book since purchasing it a year ago. I play from it nearly every day and it got me excited about playing regularly again. It has a wonderful variety of music from popular (classical) composers, and there were many pieces I had heard before but didn't know the name or composer.

From the Bach's delicate "Prelude in C Major" to the Handel's majestic "Hallelujah Chorus", from the slow "Resurrection" by Mahler to the Hadyn's brisk "Gypsy Rondo", there is a style to match just about any mood or occasion.

I wish I had purchased this book years ago. I highly recommend it!