Max Bruch : His Life and Works [Paperback]

Christopher Fifield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1843831368 | ISBN-13: 978-1843831365

This is the paperback edition of the hardback version originally published by Gollancz in 1988. It also has the author's lengthy afterword to update and revise the original version, a revised bibliography and workslist, a list of new editions of Bruch's music, and a new select discography. This book remains the only biography in any language of the composer Max Bruch (1838-1920), whose first violin concerto has been consistently popular with the concert-going and listening public since 1868. The book explores all the composer's 100 published works, operas, oratorios, orchestral, instrumental and chamber music. It traces the long life and explores the complex character of a man who, until now, has been a little more than a well known name to music lovers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The return of Fifield's excellent biography to the ranks of books in print is very welcome indeed. H-NET REVIEWSBruch deserves a full-scale study and this is what he and his music gets...This is the work on Bruch but its merit lies not only in being the only book but in the detail, pacing and presentation of Bruch's life. The humanising communicative faculty that Mr Fifield brings to bear lifts the book from mere gap-filling as does its evident determination to lift Bruch from the slough of one-work composers. In all these ways the book and its author bears the laurels of victory. MUSIC WEB INTERNATIONAL Richly documented account of Bruch's career. TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Boydell Press (July 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843831368
• ISBN-13: 978-1843831365
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,278,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Time to Rediscover Bruch?, June 12, 2008

By 

Robert E. Morrell (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Max Bruch : His Life and Works (Paperback)

Whatever may be the matter with the times we live in, we can at least take some comfort in having escaped from a century largely dominated by musical cognoscenti who insisted that music was not music! (The details are lucidly described in Alex Ross's landmark study, "The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century" -- required summer reading if you don't have a copy already.)

Max Bruch (1838-1920) was not so lucky, but he kept the faith: that music was fundamentally about music. The price he paid for this attitude was that for some time his work has been largely overlooked. It is positively amazing that to this day Christopher Fifield's biography is still "the only full-length study of Bruch."

Many are familiar with Bruch's beautiful Violin Concerto in G minor, often the first major concerto attempted by young violinists. Less well known, but just as musical, is his "Scottish Fantasy" for violin and orchestra. And, of course, the great arrangement of "Kol Nidrei," for cello, and any number of other instruments.

That is just a small part of Bruch's output. He composed three violin concertos, three symphonies, oratorios, chamber music, choral music, etc. Fortunately, much of this has been recorded and is available through Amazon.com.

Fifield's book may seem a little pricey, but it is thorough, well-documented, well-written -- and there are no alternatives. So your decision is easy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Essence of Bruch, October 11, 2005

By 

Stephen S. Trott - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Max Bruch : His Life and Works (Paperback)

I am the pre-concert speaker for all the symphonic programs of the Boise Philharmonic Association and a guest speaker for the Seattle Symphony. My challange is to bring to life the composers and to create a meaningful context for their works so that the audience can get the most out of each performance. This book contains everything one needs to know about this arresting romantic composer who wrote two of the most beautiful pieces aver written: his Violin Concerto in g minor and his Scottish Fantasy. Bruch's secret? The inspiration of folksong and folk music. The grace, simplicity, the authenticity, and the unalloyed power of the voice of humanity taught him how to write orchestral music that will endure forever. It is all in this excellent book, a perfect companion to his musical masterpieces.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thorough look at Max Bruch, May 12, 2007

By 

L. Smith (PHILADELPHIA, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Max Bruch : His Life and Works (Paperback)

Well and engagingly written, this book gives a lively look into the life of a composer who is now known for only a handful of the nearly 100 works he wrote and who deserves a better fate than that.