Classical Opera category: 1804 books

The Orchestra: A Very Short Introduction considers the structure, roots, and day-to-day functioning of the modern philharmonic society. Far from an anachronistic organization that cannot long survive, it is shown to be powerful political and social force, occupying critical positions in cultural diplomacy, national identity, and civic pride.

First published in 1906. 32 illustrations. Chapters cover: St. Cecilia, Palestrina, Lulli, Stradivarius, Tartini, Bach, Handel, Bluck, Mozart, Linley, Haydn, Web, Beethoven, Schubert, Rouget de Lisle, Paganini, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Meyerbeer, Wagner, and Liszt.

The first full biography of one of the greatest figures of eighteenth-century Europe, known in his time as the "Black Mozart" Virtually forgotten until now, his life is the stuff of legend. Born in 1739 in Guadeloupe to a slave mother and a French noble father, he became the finest...

Since time immemorial, the response of the living to death has been to commemorate the life of the departed through ceremonies and rituals. For nearly two millennia, the Christian quest for eternal peace has been expressed in a poetic-musical structure known as the requiem. Traditional requiem texts,...

This book is a collection of articles on Hindustani Music, put together expressly to introduce readers and music lovers to the magic of Hindustani music and the cultural context in which it is made. It contains description and analysis of vocal and instrumental styles, biographical sketches of great...

Richard Wagner remains, almost 130 years after his death, the most controversial composer in the history of music. Creator of huge and hugely ambitious operas, which have an immense immediate impact, as well as providing food for endless thought and discussion, Wagner has had an influence on many...

Over three decades Paul Griffiths's survey has remained the definitive study of music since the Second World War; this fully revised and updated edition re-establishes Modern Music and After as the preeminent introduction to the music of our time. The disruptions of the war and the struggles of the...

Nearly one hundred years after the death of its composer, the music of Claude Debussy has lost none of its breadth of appeal. With the rare ability to entice listeners on many levels, at its heart lies an engaging simplicity-one which defies traditional analysis and lends mystery to what ultimately...

An essential resource for scholars and performers, this study by a world-renowned specialist illuminates the piano music of four major French composers, in comparative and reciprocal context. Howat explores the musical language and artistic ethos of this repertoire, juxtaposing structural analysis with...

J. S. Bach’s Suites for Unaccompanied Cello are among the most cherished and frequently played works in the entire literature of music, and yet they have never been the subject of a full-length music analytical study. The musical examples herein include every note of all movements (so one needs...

Michael Steinberg's 1996 volume The Symphony: A Reader's Guide received glowing reviews across America. It was hailed as "wonderfully clear...recommended warmly to music lovers on all levels" (Washington Post), "informed and thoughtful" (Chicago Tribune), and "composed by...

(Schirmer Performance Editions). Schirmer Performance Editions are designed for piano students and their teachers as well as for professional pianists. Pedagogical in nature, these editions offer insightful interpretive suggestions, pertinent fingering, and historical and stylistic commentary. Prepared...

This edition features a linked Table of Contents CONTENTS THE GREAT ITALIAN AND FRENCH COMPOSERS. PALESTRINA. PICCINI, PAISIELLO, AND CIMAROSA ROSSINI. VERDI. CHERUBINI AND HIS PREDECESSORS. MÉHUL, SPONTINI, AND HALÉVY. BOÏELDIEU AND AUBER. MEYERBEER. GOUNOD AND THOMAS. BERLIOZ. THE...