Item Detail
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Hemming, Roy
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Discovering music; where to start on records and tapes, the great composers and their works, today's major recording artists
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Book
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New York, N.Y.
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1974
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Four Winds Press
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xiii, 379 p. : port. ; 25 cm.
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English
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0590071440; 9780590071444
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Sound recordings--Collectors and collecting.
Music--Bio-bibliography. -
Music Libraries; Musical Terms; Musicians; Composers; Compositions
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ML 111.5 .H44
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Hemming, Roy. Discovering Great Music. New York: Newmarket Press, 1992.
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A listening guide/discography for the newcomer to classical music. Not intended for music students or professionals. For those seeking to familiarize themselves with the top classical composers. Users will find brief biographies of the composers and available recordings of selected works.
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50 major composers are selected for this guide, ranging from Baroque to Contemporary. Although no specific criteria are stated, included composers and works are mostly those you would expect to see represented on a regular basis in the performances of major symphony orchestras. The lists of works for each composer are in no way comprehensive. Major symphonies, concertos, and other orchestral works are the main focus of coverage. Operas, leider, and chamber music are the exception rather than the rule. Discographies are also not comprehensive; they include only recommended recordings on CD, phonograph, and cassette tape. Recordings were selected on the criteria of 1) a good interpretation and 2) good sound quality of the recording. A section of major recording artists covers conductors, singers, and instrumentalists with established recording careers and a few promising newcomers.
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Divided into three main sections. The first section, Where do I Start? tells the beginner how to familiarize himself with the genre of classical music. This section outlines six approaches the user can take, suggestions on what to listen for, and an explanation of different recording formats. The second comprises the main portion of the guide. This bio-discography is organized alphabetically by composer's last name. Biographical information begins each entry. Helpful details include a pronunciation guide for each name, and a short section explaining the composer's main significance in classical music. A longer paragraph gives more detailed information on the composer's life. This is followed by suggestions of which works to start with; each suggestion has a brief descriptive note about the piece and a list of suggested CDs, LPs, and/or cassettes. Concluding each entry is a list of works for follow-up consideration. Notes for each piece are usually more brief, but recommended recordings are still listed. The third section of the guide is a biographical list of major recording artists (conductors, singers, and instrumentalists). The list is organized alphabetically by surname, and each entry includes a brief biography. A list of major symphony orchestras in the United States, Canada, and Europe concludes this section. A glossary of basic music terms is included in the back of the guide, as well as a list of recording companies and their addresses. Finally, an integrated index of composers, conductors, performers, and symphony orchestras concludes the work.
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User-friendly and written in a style easy for the general public to understand. An excellent guide for becoming familiar with standard orchestral literature.
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Source is slightly outdated. Although the composers and works covered are still relevant, many excellent recordings have been produced since this work was published.
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BYU Mus Ref
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3387