The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection : The 350 Essential Works
by Ted Libbey

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Book Reviews of The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection : The 350 Essential Works

Book Review: Classical Music Bible: A Great Source Of Reference
Summary: 5 Stars

Terms in music are clearly defined and recommended conductos, orchestras and recordings are listed - Herbert Von Karajan, hailed as the best conductor of the 20th century after Arturo Toscanini was in the turn of the century, and the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic which are world famous, conductors Leonard Bernstein (of Broadway musical fame Westside Story and Candide) Bruno Walter, Paul Paray, Antal Dorati, John Elliot Gardner, George Szell who was the longest running conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa, Eugene Ormandy, Zubin Mehta, George Solti, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Charles Mackerras, Thomas Beecham, Dutoit, Andre Previn, Colin Davis, Neville Marriner and the recent conducting of Simon Rattle and Essa Pekka Salonen. Virtuoso musicians like the pianist Arthur Rubinstein, Murray Perahia, violinists Iztak Pearlman, Isaac Stern and Zuckerman, Midori, Chang, Hilary Hahn and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Let's nor forget trumpet talents Winston Marsalis and Hakan Herdenberger.

Provided here are a history and chronology of classical music periods and the influential composers. In the Baroque Era (1600-1750) Bach, Handel and Vivaldi. Bach's Brandenburg Concerti, Toccata And Fugue in D Minor, Violin Concerti and Chorale Preludes as well as Goldberg Variatons among other works are his most famous. Handel's Water Music, Royal Fireworks Music and Concerto Grosso stand out as much as his operas- Rinaldo, Giulio Cesare, and his majestic oratorio The Messiah. Vivaldi is most famous for The Four Seasons but a lot of his string ensembles are excellent music of the period. For the Classical Era (1750-1820) the biggest name is Mozart, whose Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is his signature, but composed the best piano, violin, flute and clarinet concerti, symphonies and operas- Le Nozze Di Figaro, Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute. Franz Joseph Haydn's many symphonies are considered the first ever written, but he composed music for keyboard, the famous Trumpet Concerto in E and the oratario The Creation, a sublime choral piece.

Let's close with the Romantic Era, which was in the 19th century. The music was emotional, expressive and colorful. Mendelsshon has several great symphonies, including The Italian Symphony, as well as the pieces A Midsummer Night's Dream Incidental Music and Hebrides Overture/Fingal's Cave and a virtuosic violin concerto. Brahms' Four Symphonies are his best works, and also famous is his Academic Festival Overture, as well as his concerti. Berlioz has the Symphony Fantastique and other large-scale orchestra works. Dvorak has the famous "New World" symphony and Tchaikovsky has his ballets Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker as well as 1812 Overture, Piano Concerto No. 1, Violin Concerto and six symphonies plus operas Queen Of Spades and Eugene Onegin to his credit. Rachmaninov has his famous piano concerto and the Impressonistic style of Debussy and Satie foreshadow the more modern style of Stravinsky and Shostakovitch as well as Arnold Schoenburg's atonal works. This is the Bible of Classical Music.

Summary of The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection : The 350 Essential Works

While sticking to the essential 300 works, there are now one-third new selections and reviews, and a 50% change in discography to keep all suggested CDs up to date. The NPR Guide tp Building a Classical CD Collection will make every music lover's core collection complete.

Reference Books

• Books > Subjects > Arts & Photography > Music
• Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Composers & Musicians