Customer Reviews

Random House Encyclopedic Dictionary of Classical Music

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In a single volume this book thoroughly covers music, musicians, composers, directors, instruments - - from the beginnings to today. It is global in its scope and has leavening quotations on almost every other page from a variety of sources. Good summaries of operas, a chronology of music history, recommended recordings, are also included. The editor achieves a dynamic balance of serious material with a light touch.

David Cummings has compiled the most useful and the most recent encyclopedia and dictionary for classical music lovers. He is both concise and accurate, listing many important persons who have composed or performed music during the last 500 years. It is a rare compendium which lists both singers and composers in one volume. This reviewer looks forward to an updated second edition of this invaluable work with additional singers, instrumental performers, and more recent composers circa 2010.

Edward Murray, Ph.D.

I recently went on a quest to find a "Cover All" book of Classical Music.
No surprise that all of the modern books I found only hit the high spots so to speak.
I recently bought a Cd of Edmund Rubbra....I had never heard of Him.
None of the modern books I found had anything about Him. This 1997 book has everything about Him!
This Random House book might be older but it's got EVERYTHING you'd want to know about Classical Music in it.
Watch and it can be bought cheap in like new condition.
I agree with Edward in the previous review....very much like to see a 2010 revised version!!!

It might be 13yrs old but I still HIGHLY recommend this book!!