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Complete Book of Classical Music Pb

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David Ewen (1907- 1985) was a popular author of over 50 books on popular music, classical composers, music biographies, opera and music appreciation. He wrote for the mainstream public in America. The time period of this 946 page reference book is from Guillaume de Machaut (1300- 1377) to Richard Strauss (1864-1949). The over 100 composers are arranged in chronological order. The format is a biographical write up that includes an evaluation of the composer's contribution to music, followed by a listing of major works (not all their works), with programmatic and analytical notes. The bibliography is 10 pages. There are no pictures or illustrations, nor any CD or vinyl record recommendations

This is not a book that treats you like a dummy and tries to sell you the music. The author does not define musical terms, such as what is a concerto, nor try to amuse you with wise cracks or scandalous tidbits. Although many of the 1,000 compositions mentioned are described in a short paragraph, this is not specifically a music appreciation book.

This book was written in 1965 and can be taken as an accessible reference book mid-way between a Reader's Digest article and Groves Dictionary of Musicians. Authorities on music, such as H. C. Robbins Landon, are sometimes quoted. The tone is reserved with praise carefully considered. The music and the composer's lives are respected. Turn on your music, sit back and relax as you look up the composer or the music whether a concerto, string quartet, sonata, symphony, oratorio, or opera.