Item Detail
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Sadie, Stanley
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The Billboard illustrated encyclopedia of classical music
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Book
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New York, N.Y.
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2000
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Billboard Books
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384 p. : ill. ; 29 cm.
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English
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Foreword by Vladimir Ashkenazy
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0823076989; 9780823076987
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Music--History and criticism.
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Classical Music; Music History
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ML 100 .B44 2000
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Sadie, Stanley, ed. The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Classical Music. New York: Billboard Books, 2000.
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A highly illustrated encyclopedia, intended to reach out to a very broad spectrum of people by not being too scientific and providing a high degree of accessibility. Not intended for in-depth research, this guide takes the approach of overview and familiarization. Seems to appeal to the younger audience in appearance but not in text.
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Includes basic information about styles, instruments, and composers associated with the different eras of Western art music. Also briefly addresses the musical traditions of non-western cultures, though this is not the focus of the book.
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Presented more as a textbook than as an encyclopedia. Organized chronologically into eras: The World of Music (cultures of ancient music outside the Western classical tradition), The Medieval Era, The Renaissance, The Early Baroque, The Late Baroque, The Classical Era, The Early Romantic, The Late Romantic, The Modern Era, and The Late 20th Century. Each era is given its own chapter. Each chapter provides an introduction to the era, sections for the key composers associated with it, a section filled with other notable composers, a section explaining styles and forms, a section about the instruments used in the era, and a listening guide. Color-coded boxes (thematic entries) are dispersed throughout every page with blurbs of information about influences, performance practices, vocal issues, etc. A guide to these color codes can be found at the beginning and at the top of every page. The end contains a glossary, a bibliography, a discography, and sections for music organizations (orchestras, ensembles, events, venues and record companies), contributor biographies, and picture credits. An index (people, places, terms) concludes the work.
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Each page is a glossy, highly illustrated layout. This serves to make the source more appealing to a younger or more general audience. Good for an overview of the history of Western music for those not seeking details or extreme accuracy.
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Highly sectionalized pieces of text. Information is general; often, broad statements are made without explanations to support them. Statements are often so generalized that they may lack accuracy.
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BYU Mus Ref
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4195