The NPR Listener's Encyclopedia of Classical Music: Amazon.de: Ted Libbey: Englische Bücher

From Booklist

Libbey spent 11 years working on this readable tome written for the casual classical music listener. The 1,500 alphabetically arranged entries cover composers, performers, topics, terms, named pieces, instruments, and institutions--all things musical. The length of the articles ranges from a sentence for Maestoso to four pages for Beethoven, Ludwig van. At the end of many of the entries is a list of recommended recordings. Some of these selections come from Libbey's earlier work, The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection (2d ed., 1999).

The author's writing may be subjective, but it is also entertaining. He describes the cellist Jacqueline du Pre as having "animal magnetism" with playing that was "impassioned . . . sometimes raw and reckless, but never reticent." There are multipage features on a variety of topics--"Countertenors," "Exotic Instruments," and "New Music Ensembles," to name a few. Many black-and-white photographs of composers, instruments, posters, and record jackets are scattered throughout the text. Entries are very current, including the death date of Birgit Nilsson (December 25, 2005).

The piece de resistance of the book is the 75 hours of sound files (more than 500 pieces of music) from the Naxos database that a reader may access on the Internet with a log-in and registration. The files are from 2 to more than 20 minutes in length and provide the listener with examples of compositions, terms, and techniques. Criticisms of this work are few. Additional cross-references or an index would have helped make it a more usable reference source. In describing older living artists, Libbey writes in the past tense, making one wonder if when an artist retires, he dies. John Rutter and Keith Lockhart do not have entries.

Libbey certainly complied with publisher Peter Workman's request that the encyclopedia be a comprehensive handbook that is "approachable, informative and fun." Where else can you find 75 hours of music and a book for less than $30? Recommended for most academic and public library reference collections. Buy additional copies for the circulating collection. Christine Bulson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine andere Ausgabe: Gebundene Ausgabe .

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 8 Up–An outstanding classical music resource, worth every moment devoted to its 11-year creation. With 1500 entries on composers, performers, instruments, musical terms, compositions, and historical periods, this clearly written, witty overview accomplishes the author's stated intent: to connect with the broadest possible public, and to focus on those areas of the literature that are well represented on recordings and accessible to the general listener. The encyclopedia is a perfect general introduction for novices or casual listeners, as well as an informative review for more seasoned classical music fans. Almost every entry for a composer, performer, or composition includes a small text box of Recommended Recordings, most of which are reviewed in The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection (Workman, 1999). Many clear, captioned black-and-white photos, primarily portraits, are included. One unique and particularly useful feature is a series of links to more than 500 musical selections on a Web site created by Naxos, a large classical music label. Readers can access more than 75 hours of music using the log-in code to gain initial access and register as users. Every library will want this excellent book.–Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine andere Ausgabe: Gebundene Ausgabe .

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48 von 52 Kunden fanden die folgende Rezension hilfreich

'errors'? 19. November 2006

Von David R. Moran - Ver�ffentlicht auf Amazon.com

Format:Taschenbuch

As someone who helped in the editing of this project, I am altogether loath to praise it in a commercial forum. But I really must wonder what the above foolish critique from *Publishers Weekly* is about. Talk about unprofessional skimming. Is it better to include a truly minor composer (Reynaldo Hahn) than a leading young American violinist (Hilary Hahn)? What of the reviewer's clear implication that there are no pictures of Mozart (there are several) or Salieri (there is a silhouette), or that it would be better to omit any photos from the nitwit movie (*Amadeus*) through which most laypeople recently have become misguidedly familiar with these two figures in music history?

Even if it's called an encyclopedia, it is altogether informed by one person's judgment and taste -- as if it could ever have been otherwise.

As for the "numerous" errors alleged, of which only a trivial charge concerning an omission holds up, one disputes the book's report about Mahler's departure from the Vienna Court (today State) Opera, countering that he was not fired but resigned. Alas for the skimming *PW* reviewer, Grove's explains it baldly: "... he was again forced to look elsewhere."

So you can safely ignore this particular *PW* review. Buy Libbey's work to read and decide for yourself how solid it is, how useful for you in your listening, and where you may wish to quibble, if you do.

46 von 50 Kunden fanden die folgende Rezension hilfreich

Superb in every way but one 5. Juli 2006

Von Kent Taylor - Ver�ffentlicht auf Amazon.com

This is a tremendous resource for anyone needing concise information about anyone involved in or any concept, however obscure, concerning classical music. The one thing missing that I think would be invaluable is a phonetic pronunciation guide. This would be particularly helpful with the composers, conductors and other musicians who are referenced. Everyone probably knows the big dogs, but the strength of this publications is the inclusion of practically everyone of note in this music field; many who are quite unknown to most of us. The pronunciation guide would be extremely helpful. Otherwise, I find this text to be a clearly superior and exhaustive resource.

19 von 20 Kunden fanden die folgende Rezension hilfreich

A "Regular People" Review 9. Januar 2007

Von Konstantin - Ver�ffentlicht auf Amazon.com

I went out on a limb and bought this while deployed overseas not really knowing what to expect. I didn't get what I wanted, but turns out, got something else....and its great. This I would say (along with THE ESSENTIAL CANNON OF CLASSICAL MUSIC by Dubal) make up the two books that I think every newcomer to classical music should own to enhance their listening experience. This book will function to explain every piece of strange terminology you will ancounter on your journey (and boy are their a lot of them!) and even give you background on some pieces and composers. So listen, enjoy....and keep me updated!

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The NPR Listener's Encyclopedia of Classical Music: [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

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