Customer Reviews

A Dictionary of Early Music: From The Troubadours to Monteverdi

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This is a great book for anyone interested in early music. The beginner will find handy, concise definitions of most of the common terms, styles, instruments, and forms, as well as biographies of major composers. The more advanced early music enthusiast will find it an invaluable source for program notes and ideas, and teachers and ensemble directors will make much use of it as well.
As an aside, it's GREAT to see that this book's definition of the period known as "Early Music" ends with the time of Monteverdi.

I had no idea there was so much information available about early music until I found this book. I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life searching out more, based on the entries in this comprehensive work. The drawings of early instruments are simple but plentiful. I am enjoying the notations of rhythmic patterns and melodies. I didn't know how many composers' and musicians' names and works had survived to current times.